Part 2831

<hw>De*cres"cent</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>decrescens</ets>, p. pr. of <ets>decrescere</ets>. See <er>Decrease</er>.]</ety> <def>Becoming less by gradual diminution; decreasing; <as>as, a <ex>decrescent</ex> moon</as>.</def>

<h1>Decrescent</h1> <Xpage=378>

<hw>De*cres"cent</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <fld>(Her.)</fld> <def>A crescent with the horns directed towards the sinister.</def>

<i>Cussans.</i>

<h1>Decretal</h1> <Xpage=378>

<hw>De*cre"tal</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>decretalis</ets>, fr. <ets>decretum</ets>. See <er>Decree</er>.]</ety> <def>Appertaining to a decree; containing a decree; <as>as, a <ex>decretal</ex> epistle</as>.</def>

<i>Ayliffe.</i>

<h1>Decretal</h1> <Xpage=378>

<hw>De*cre"tal</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[LL. <ets>decretale</ets>, neut. of L. <ets>decretalis</ets>. See <er>Decretal</er>, <tt>a.</tt>]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <fld>(R. C. Ch.)</fld> <def>An authoritative order or decree; especially, a letter of the pope, determining some point or question in ecclesiastical law. The decretals form the second part of the canon law.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <fld>(Canon Law)</fld> <def>The collection of ecclesiastical decrees and decisions made, by order of Gregory IX., in 1234, by St. Raymond of Pennafort.</def>

<h1>Decrete</h1> <Xpage=378>

<hw>De*crete"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>decretum</ets>. See <er>Decree</er>.]</ety> <def>A decree.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Chaucer.</i>

<h1>Decretion</h1> <Xpage=378>

<hw>De*cre"tion</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[From L. <ets>decrescere</ets>, <ets>decretum</ets>. See <er>Decrease</er>.]</ety> <def>A decrease.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Pearson.</i>

<h1>Decretist</h1> <Xpage=378>

<hw>De*cre"tist</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[LL. <ets>decretista</ets>, fr. <ets>decretum</ets>: cf. F. <ets>d\'82cr\'82tiste</ets>. See <er>Decree</er>, <tt>n.</tt>]</ety> <def>One who studies, or professes the knowledge of, the decretals.</def>

<h1>Decretive</h1> <Xpage=378>

<hw>De*cre"tive</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[From L. <ets>decretum</ets>. See <er>Decree</er>, <tt>n.</tt>]</ety> <def>Having the force of a decree; determining.</def>

<blockquote>The will of God is either <b>decretive</b> or perceptive. <i>Bates.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Decretorial</h1> <Xpage=378>

<hw>Dec`re*to"ri*al</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Decretory; authoritative.</def>

<i>Sir T. Browne.</i>

<h1>Decretorily</h1> <Xpage=378>

<hw>Dec"re*to*ri*ly</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>adv.</tt> <def>In a decretory or definitive manner; by decree.</def>

<h1>Decretory</h1> <Xpage=378>