Middle English Dictionary Entry
dēcrẹ̄ n.
Entry Info
| Forms | dēcrẹ̄ n. Also decree, degre(e. |
| Etymology | OF, var. of decret. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) An edict, a law; (b) a decree of a pope, bishop, church council, etc.; a papal decision; a rule; (c) a decision, judgment.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Dan.3.10 : Thou, kyng, hast putte [WB(2): set] a decree, or dome [L decretum], that eche man..wirshipe the golden ymage.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1745 : Þen watz demed a decre bi þe duk selven.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)386 : Do dryue out a decre demed of my seluen, Þat alle þe bodyes..Alle faste frely for her falce werkes.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.36 : And certanly hemself [the Senators] in þaire degree [L decretis] Han put on me þat poynt of treccherie.
b
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)6.237 : Pipinus..was made emperour by decree [L decreto] of Zacharias þe pope.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.640 : A fewe termes hadde he, two or thre, That he had lerned out of som decre.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2594 : The book of decrees seith Selden..been causes ybroght to good ende whan they been baddely bigonne.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.2926 : The Pope anon upon the cas Of his Papal Autorite Hath mad and yove the decre.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.315 : Foure at Rome ware, to areson þe pape, þe right forto declare..& þorgh his decre þe pes pronunce a day.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)11.236 : For cristene han a degre, & is þe comun speche, 'Dilige deum, etc., Et proximum tuum sicut teipsum?'
- (1438) Reg.Spofford in Cant.Yk.S.23223 : Receyvynge be pact or condicion for ony maner of gode..wee repreve and dampneth by this our opyn decree.
- a1450(c1405) Purvey Determ.(Trin-C B.14.50)176/209 : Þe decres rehersiþ sixti Latyn eretikes.
- (c1456) Pecock Faith (Trin-C B.14.45)299 : So dide another greet general counceil aftir..as apperith in the book clepid Decrees of counceils, rehercen the ii now seid credis.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)33a : A Decre: decretum, decretista, qui..legit decreta.
c
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.17 : Now lakketh vs no tales mo than oon; Fulfild is my sentence and my decree.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.1970 : And thus for trouthe of his decre Zorobabel was most commended.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)1.915 : Among hem alle þis was thanne her decree: Vp-on this mateer a lettere wil thei wryte.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)101 : Þe secound, þat is bi þingis only good..ne letting of..counseil of Crist, efter þe decre of Isidor.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)120.95 (v.2:p.309) : Nero .. chargyd that Nazarius and his chyld shulde byn throwyn doun heedlyngis into the see ... And anoon aftir the degre [?read: decre] thei were leyd fer vp intho the see and throwyn owt heedly[n]gis.
- a1500 Discip.Cler.(Wor F.172)58 : Sum decre thei purposiden of lasse Reproef and threate.
2.
(a) Laws collectively; (b) the body of canon law; (c) the title of a book, ?= decretales.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3667 : Hise lustes were al lawe in his decree.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1167 : And therfore positif lawe and swich decree Is broke al day for loue in ech degree.
- a1450(1400) Eche man be war (Dgb 102)20 : The puple is..not ȝoures, Thow they be soget to ȝoure degre.
b
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.931 : As seith the decree, a womman that is a wyf..hath noon auctoritee to swere..with oute leue of hir housbonde.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)4637 : Hyt ys forbode hym yn þe decre [F en decre] Myracles for to make or se.
- 1421 Doc.N.Convocation in Sur.Soc.113165 : It is declared in ye decre of halikirke 23 q ecce inquit.
- a1450 SLeg.Suppl.Bod.(Bod 779)348/23 : His mayster..wolde him sette to scole gret clergye to lere as dialenke [read: dialetike] & decre & eke astronomye.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1583 : Þan fyndis he..Practisirs & prematis & prestis of þe lawe, Of dialiticus & decre, doctours of aythir.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)94 : As þe decre seiþ, þat þow no þing of iuel be schewid to be in swilk þingis, neuerþeles ȝet þei are defendid of þe kirk to feiþful men.
c
- (1476-78) Acc.St.Andrew Hubbard in BMag.3230 : Resceyued of Pye, Stacyoner, for A boke called Decrees, to hym by vs the said wardeins sold, iij li.
3.
doctour of decre(s, a doctor of canon law.
Associated quotations
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)15.373 : Doctoures of decres and of diuinite Maistres..shulde konne and knowe alkynnes clergye.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)18.113 : Doctours of decree and of dyuyn maystres..shoulde þe seuene ars conne and a-soile ad quodlibet.
- (c1453) Let.Oxf.in OHS 35319 : Thomas Sawnders, doctour of decres, Commissarie generall in the Universite of Oxonforde.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)46/26 : To this seith Seint Austin that..wurschip the which is callid the decre thou scholdist not do it, neithir to ydole ne to ymage..for that is a dewe wurschip al-oonly to God.
Note: New sense.
Note: Gloss: The highest form of worship to be given to God only, latria.
Note: For this word, other editions have "þe deuocioun off þe hert" (Babyngton)and "latre" (Wyer) (the latter probably being "latria").--notes per MLL
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1484(a1475) Caritate SSecr.(Tak 38)123/7 : I haue purposyd and hastyd me to make a decre to thy buxumnes, þe qwyche schal be to the as a balauns, be þe qwyche thow mayst discusse and pondyr alle thy werkys, and se qwat thow schal do to thy wurchyp and profyte, and qwat thow schalt leue, þe whyche canon or decre schal fulfylle my stede.
Note: New sense.
Note: Gloss: An authoritative work on a particular range of subjects, a treatise.--notes per MLL