Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun A decree or proclamation issued by an authority and having the force of law.
- noun A formal pronouncement or command.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun A decree or law promulgated by a sovereign prince or ruler on his sole authority; hence, any analogous order or command.
- noun Specifically In Roman law, a decree or ordinance of a pretor.
- noun In Scotch ecclesiastical use, a church proclamation; specifically, a notice to show cause, if any, why a pastor or elders should not be ordained.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun A public command or ordinance by the sovereign power; the proclamation of a law made by an absolute authority, as if by the very act of announcement; a decree
- noun (French Hist.) an edict issued by Henry IV. (A. D. 1598), giving toleration to Protestants. Its revocation by Louis XIV. (A. D. 1685) was followed by terrible persecutions and the expatriation of thousands of French Protestants.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun a
proclamation oflaw or other authoritative command
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun a formal or authoritative proclamation
- noun a legally binding command or decision entered on the court record (as if issued by a court or judge)
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
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Examples
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Claudius, &c. -- This edict is almost certainly that mentioned by
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Insisting her "edict" is to get kids graduated, Martin Van Buren HS Principal Marilyn Shevell has declared war on athletics, outraged students, parents and coaches charge.
NY School Nixes Sports To Raise Grades New York Post 2010
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Insisting her edict is to get kids graduated, Martin Van Buren HS Principal Marilyn Shevell has declared war on ...
NY School Nixes Sports To Raise Grades New York Post 2010
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Remember that as this loser of a president shields himself behind the cadets at West Point because he is unable to issue this edict from the Oval Office.
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The latest edict from the National Fatwa Council reflects a growing swing towards a conservative brand of Islam in the multi-ethnic country that has prompted worries among non-Muslims.
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The edict is obviously and blatantly a marketing ploy just for the sake of publicity.
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If the Portuguese did not behave themselves, an edict from the Chinese administrators in Guangzhou was enough to cut off food supplies to the port.
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It cannot be made to happen simply by edict from the top of either government or business.
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A Latin edict of Theodoric is still extant, in one hundred and fifty-four articles.
The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire 1206
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This edict is about as popular a measure as you’d imagine.
Quick Hits – Justice Society, Wonder Woman, Blackest Night, Fantastic Four, and More 2009
revengeance commented on the word edict
"HERMIA: If then true lovers have been ever crossed
It stands as an edict in destiny."
From Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'
January 12, 2012