I.fin.; 5, 53, 2), v. a. and n.
I. (acc. to cerno, no. II. 3.) To decide, determine any thing disputed or doubtful. For syn. cf.: scisco, jubeo, statuo, constituo, dico, sancio, consilium capio, destino, obstino, definio, determino.
A. Prop., of a judge, magistrate, etc., to pronounce a decision respecting something; to decide, judge, determine, decree; to vote for any thing (very freq. and class.).—Const. with acc., with acc. et inf., a relat. clause, with de, or absol.: “alias (Verres praetor) revocabat eos, inter quos jam decreverat decretumque mutabat, alias, etc.,” Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 46: “si quod est admissum facinus, si caedes facta, idem (Druides) decernunt,” Caes. B. G. 6, 13, 5: “consules de consilii sententia decreverunt secundum Buthrotios,” Cic. Att. 16, 16, C, § 11: decernere vindicias secundum servitutem, in favor of slavery, i. e. restore the slave to his master, Liv. 3, 47, 5; cf. Caes. B. C. 1, 5, 4: “cum senatus triumphum Africano decerneret,” id. Fin. 4, 9, 22; cf. “of a single senator: non decrevi solum, sed etiam ut vos decerneretis laboravi,” id. Prov. Cons. 11, 28; “so supplicationem decernere,” id. Fam. 15, 4, 11; “so also: Crassus tres legatos decernit,” id. ib. 1, 1, 3: “D. Junius silanus supplicium sumendum decreverat,” Sall. C. 50, 4: “quando id bellum senatus decrevisset, quando id bellum populus R. jussisset?” Liv. 41, 7; 42, 36; id. 5, 36; id. 26, 2: “id quod senatus me auctore decrevit,” Cic. Phil. 6, 1, 1; Caes. B. C. 1, 2, 2: “qui ordo decrevit invitus,” on compulsion, Cic. Phil. 1, 6, 13: “Ligures ambobus consulibus decernuntur,” id. Liv. 42, 10; cf.: “provinciam desponsam non decretam habere,” Cic. Prov. Cons. 15 (v. the whole passage in connection): “provinciae privatis decernuntur,” Caes. B. C. 1, 6, 4 et saep.: “ex annuo sumptu, qui mihi decretus esset,” Cic. Att. 7, 1, 6 et saep.: “mea virtute atque diligentia perditorum hominum patefactam esse conjurationem decrevistis,” id. Cat. 4, 3: cum pontifices decressent ita; “SI, etc.,” id. Att. 4, 2, 3: “senatus decrevit populusque jussit, ut, etc.,” Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 67: in jure dicundo, ita decrevit, ut, etc., Suet. Galb. 7; cf. “of individuals: Hortensii et mea et Luculli sententia ... tibi decernit, ut regem reducas, etc.,” Cic. Fam. 1, 1, 3.—Impers.: “in parricidas rei publicae decretum esse,” Sall. Cat. 51, 25.—Esp. of the emperor, to determine the law by deciding a case: “quodcumque imperator cognoscens decrevit, legem esse constat,” Dig. 1, 4, 1, § 1; Just. Inst. 1, 2, 6.
2. Transf., beyond the judicial sphere, to decide, determine, judge: qui nequeas nostrorum uter sit Amphitruo decernere, Plaut. fragm. ap. Non. 285, 26: “rem dubiam decrevit vox opportune emissa,” Liv. 5, 55; cf.: “primus clamor atque impetus rem decrevit,” id. 25, 41; Plin. 17, 27, 46, § 258: “de his Catonis praecepta decernent,” id. 17, 22, 35, § 190: “duo talenta pro re nostra ego esse decrevi satis,” Ter. Heaut. 5, 1, 67; id. Hec. 4, 1, 27: “quam decrerim me non posse diutius habere,” id. ib. 1, 2, 73: “in quo omnia mea posita esse decrevi,” Cic. Fam. 2, 6, 3; id. Att. 3, 15, 7: “illum decrerunt dignum, suos cui liberos committerent,” Ter. Hec. 2, 1, 15: “in ejus controversiis quid decernas, non a te peto,” Cic. Fam. 13, 59: aliquem decernere hostem, to proclaim one an enemy by a formal decree, id. Phil. 11, 7, 16.—Absol.: “nequeo satis decernere,” Ter. Ad. 4, 2, 5.
B. Milit., to decide by combat; hence (like cernere and certare), in gen., to fight, combat, contend: “castra castris conferamus, et Samnis Romanusne imperio Italiam regant, decernamus,” Liv. 8, 23, 9; id. 1, 23, 9: “in ipso illo gladiatorio vitae certamine, quod ferro decernitur,” Cic. de Or. 2, 78, 317: “proelium,” id. Fam. 10, 10: “pugnam,” Liv. 28, 14; cf. id. ib. 33: de bello decernere, Auct. B. Hisp. 5 fin. Oud. N. cr.: “ne armis decernatur,” Cic. Att. 7, 3, 5; cf.: “ferro ancipiti decernunt,” Verg. A. 7, 525: “and armis, ferro,” id. ib. 11, 218; 12, 282; 695 (cf. et cernere ferro, id. ib. 709): “cursibus et crudo caestu,” id. G. 3, 20: “cornibus inter se,” id. ib. 218: “lapidibus et subselliorum fragminibus,” Suet. Ner. 26 et saep.: “contra magnam vim hostium, artificio magis quam viribus, Auct. B. Afr. 14: acie,” Liv. 2, 14; Nep. Milt. 4, 4: “proelio cum proditore,” Just. 13, 8, 4: “classe decreturi,” Nep. Hann. 10, 4: “integriore exercitu,” id. Eum. 9 fin.—Absol.: “decernendi potestatem Pompeio fecit,” Caes. B. C. 3, 41; cf. Liv. 21, 41.
2. Transf., beyond the milit. sphere: “decernite criminibus, mox ferro decreturi,” Liv. 40, 8 fin.—So of a judicial contest: “uno judicio de fortunis omnibus decernit,” Cic. Quint. 2, 6; cf. Quint. 10, 1, 29; “and qui judicio decernent,” id. 12, 7, 5: “de salute reipublicae,” Cic. Att. 8, 5, 2: “pro mea omni fama fortunisque,” id. de Or. 2, 49: “utinam meo solum capite decernerem,” id. Att. 10, 9; Caes. B. C. 1, 35, 3.
II. With reference to one's own acts, to decide, determine on doing something; to determine, resolve on something (freq. in all periods and styles).—Constr., with inf. and with acc. and inf.: “si tu fluctus e gurgite tollere decreris, Lucil. ap. Rufin. § 26 (p. 238 ed. Frotsch.): quicquid peperisset decreverunt tollere,” Ter. Andr. 1, 3, 14: “Caesar his de causis Rhenum transire decreverat,” Caes. B. G. 4, 17 et saep.: “eos me decretum est persequi mores patris,” Plaut. Asin. 1, 1, 58; id. Stich. 1, 3, 65; Ter. Heaut. 3, 1, 56; cf.: “certum atque decretum est non dare signum,” Liv. 2, 45: “reliquam aetatem a republica procul habendam decrevi,” Sall. C. 4. With ut and subjunct.: “hic decernit ut miser sit,” Cic. Tusc. 3, 27, 65.—With accus.: “quicquam decernere,” id. ib.—Hence, dē-crētum , i, n.
A. (Acc. to no. I. A.) A decree, decision, ordinance of any political or judicial body (for syn. cf.: “scitum, edictum, consilium, jus): senatus Caelium ab rep. removendum censuit. Hoc decreto eum consul senatu prohibuit,” Caes. B. C. 3, 21, 3: “si qui eorum (sc. Druidum) decreto non stetit, sacrificiis interdicunt,” id. B. G. 6, 13, 5; cf. id. ib. § “10: vestra responsa atque decreta evertuntur saepe dicendo,” Cic. Mur. 13 fin.; Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 48: “decurionum,” id. Rosc. Am. 9, 25 et saep.: “Caesaris,” Vulg. Act. 17, 7.—Esp. leg. t. t., a decision of the emperor as judge, a precedent (cf. rescriptum), Gai. 1, 5; Just. Inst. 2, 15, 4.—
B. Transf., in philos. lang. as a translation of the Gr. δόγμα, principle, doctrine, precept, Cic. Ac. 2, 9, 27; id. ib. § 29; cf. Sen. Ep. 94, 2 sq. and 95, 9 sq. (quis philoso, phorum) decretis suis paret? Lact. 3, 15, 3.
