Where does “decree” come from?

Decree comes from Middle English decre, from Old French decré, from Latin decretum, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European krey-.

decree (English): An edict or law; The judicial decision in a...

Definitions

  1. An edict or law; The judicial decision in a...

Ancestry of “decree”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishdecreAn instrument carrying a legal decision; a decree...
2Old Frenchdecrédecree
3LatindēcrētumA decision, decree, ordinance, order
4Latindēcernōto decide, decide upon, settle, determine (especially something disputed or doubtful)
5Latindē-of; from
6Latinof; concerning; about
7Latinpostbehind; after, since, besides, except; behind,...
8Latinposteablative singular of postis
9Proto-Italicpostibehind, after
10Proto-Indo-Europeanpóstiafter
11Proto-Indo-Europeanpósafterwards, post; by, at

Words derived from “decree

Every word from Proto-Indo-European pós