Decretal

Part of speech: noun, adjective

Pronunciation: /dɪˈkɹiːtəɫ/

Definitions

1. A formal directive from a pope that interprets or clarifies issues of church law for the faithful
2. An official communication from papal authority that outlines legal interpretations relevant to ecclesiastical matters
3. A written order from a religious leader that provides guidance on the interpretation of canon law and its application to church-related issues

Etymology: The Decretals of Gratian and the papal letters that followed from them gave this word its main use, but the adjective came first in its Latin form. Late Latin "dēcrētālis" was formed from Latin "decretum", a decree or formal ruling, and the word passed into Middle French as "decretal" before reaching English. Its core sense stayed tied to decrees: something that settles a matter by authority. In English the noun now names a papal letter that answers a question of church law, with the force of a ruling. The adjective describes whatever belongs to such a letter or to the decrees behind it. Both uses trace back to the same Latin root, so the word carries the weight of its original meaning of a formal decision.