verbthird conjugation
dēcernō
dēcernō (present infinitive dēcernere, perfect active dēcrēvī, supine dēcrētum)
Classical[deːˈkɛr.noː]Ecclesiastical[deˈt͡ʃɛr.no]
№ 800 of the 1,000 commonest wordsMille Verba core vocabulary
Meaning
- transitiveto decide, decide upon, settle, determine (especially something disputed or doubtful)
Q. Fuluio Ap. Claudio, prioris anni consulibus, prorogatum imperium est atque exercitus quos habebant decreti, adiectumque ne a Capua quam obsidebant abscederent priusquam expugnassent.
The military authority of Quintus Fulvius and Appius Claudius, consuls of the previous year, was extended and the armies which they had were decided upon, and it was added as a proviso that they should not withdraw from Capua, which they were besieging, until they conquered it.27 BCE – 25 BCE, Titus Livius, Ab urbe condita 26.1 - to pronounce a decision concerning something; decide, determine, judge, declare, decree; vote for something
Dēcernimus ergō ut nūllī omnīnō hominum liceat vestrum coenobium temere perturbāre, aut eius possessiōnēs auferre, vel ablātās retinēre.
We therefore decree that no man whatsoever shall be permitted to recklessly disturb your monastery, or to take away its possessions, or to retain those which have been taken away.Dēcrēvit quondam Senātus ut L. Opīmius cōnsul vidēret nē quid rēs pūblica dētrīmentī caperet; [...].
The Senate once decreed that the consul Lucius Opimius should see to it that the Republic would not suffer any harm; ….63 BCE, Cicero, In Catilinam orationes 1.4 - to decide by combat; fight, combat, contend
Latīnē defined in Latin in our graded readers
cōnstituō; senātus bellum dēcernit.dēcernō -ere — in Mille Verba, Urbs et Aedificia
statuō, cōnstituōdēcernō -ere — in IVLIANVS I: Gallia, ch. 19
fīrmiter statuōdēcernō -ere — in Aeneis, ch. 12
Choosing the right word Döderlein's Latin Synonyms
Destinare · Obstinare · Decernere · Statuere · Constituere
1. Destinare and obstinare denote forming a resolution as a psychological, whereas decernere and statuere as a political, act. 2. Destinare means to form a decided resolution, by which a thing is set at rest; obstinare, to form an unalterable resolution, whereby a man perseveres with obstinacy and doggedness. 3. Decernere denotes the final result of a formal consultation, or, at least, of a deliberation approaching the nature and seriousness of a collegial discussion; statuere, to settle the termination of an uncertain state, and constituere is the word employed, if the subject or object of the transaction is a multitude. Cic. Fr. Tull. Hoc judicium sic expectatur, ut non unæ rei statui, sed omnibus constitui putetur. (iv. 178.)
Conjugation conjugation 3
| form | present | imperfect | future | perfect | pluperfect | fut. perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st sg. | dēcernō | dēcernēbam | dēcernam | dēcrēvī | dēcrēveram dēcrēram | dēcrēverō dēcrērō |
| 2nd sg. | dēcernis | dēcernēbās | dēcernēs | dēcrēvistī dēcrēstī | dēcrēverās dēcrērās | dēcrēveris dēcrēris |
| 3rd sg. | dēcernit | dēcernēbat | dēcernet | dēcrēvit dēcrēt | dēcrēverat dēcrērat | dēcrēverit dēcrērit |
| 1st pl. | dēcernimus | dēcernēbāmus | dēcernēmus | dēcrēvimus dēcrēmus | dēcrēverāmus dēcrērāmus | dēcrēverimus dēcrērimus |
| 2nd pl. | dēcernitis | dēcernēbātis | dēcernētis | dēcrēvistis dēcrēstis | dēcrēverātis dēcrērātis | dēcrēveritis dēcrēritis |
| 3rd pl. | dēcernunt | dēcernēbant | dēcernent | dēcrēvērunt dēcrērunt, dēcrēvēre | dēcrēverant dēcrērant | dēcrēverint dēcrērint |
active subjunctive
| form | present | imperfect | perfect | pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st sg. | dēcernam | dēcernerem | dēcrēverim dēcrērim | dēcrēvissem dēcrēssem |
| 2nd sg. | dēcernās | dēcernerēs | dēcrēverīs dēcrērīs | dēcrēvissēs dēcrēssēs |
| 3rd sg. | dēcernat | dēcerneret | dēcrēverit dēcrērit | dēcrēvisset dēcrēsset |
| 1st pl. | dēcernāmus | dēcernerēmus | dēcrēverīmus dēcrērīmus | dēcrēvissēmus dēcrēssēmus |
| 2nd pl. | dēcernātis | dēcernerētis | dēcrēverītis dēcrērītis | dēcrēvissētis dēcrēssētis |
| 3rd pl. | dēcernant | dēcernerent | dēcrēverint dēcrērint | dēcrēvissent dēcrēssent |
passive indicative
| form | present | imperfect | future |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st sg. | dēcernor | dēcernēbar | dēcernar |
| 2nd sg. | dēcerneris dēcernere | dēcernēbāris dēcernēbāre | dēcernēris dēcernēre |
| 3rd sg. | dēcernitur | dēcernēbātur | dēcernētur |
| 1st pl. | dēcernimur | dēcernēbāmur | dēcernēmur |
| 2nd pl. | dēcerniminī | dēcernēbāminī | dēcernēminī |
| 3rd pl. | dēcernuntur | dēcernēbantur | dēcernentur |
passive subjunctive
| form | present | imperfect |
|---|---|---|
| 1st sg. | dēcernar | dēcernerer |
| 2nd sg. | dēcernāris dēcernāre | dēcernerēris dēcernerēre |
| 3rd sg. | dēcernātur | dēcernerētur |
| 1st pl. | dēcernāmur | dēcernerēmur |
| 2nd pl. | dēcernāminī | dēcernerēminī |
| 3rd pl. | dēcernantur | dēcernerentur |
imperative
| form | active | passive |
|---|---|---|
| pres. 2nd sg. | dēcerne | dēcernere |
| pres. 2nd pl. | dēcernite | dēcerniminī |
| fut. 2nd sg. | dēcernitō | dēcernitor |
| fut. 3rd sg. | dēcernitō | dēcernitor |
| fut. 2nd pl. | dēcernitōte | — |
| fut. 3rd pl. | dēcernuntō | dēcernuntor |
infinitives & participles
| form | active | passive |
|---|---|---|
| present infinitive | dēcernere | dēcernī |
| perfect infinitive | dēcrēvisse dēcrēsse | dēcrētum esse |
| future infinitive | dēcrētūrum esse | dēcrētum īrī |
| present participle | dēcernēns | — |
| perfect participle | — | dēcrētus dēcrēta, dēcrētā, dēcrētae, dēcrētam, dēcrētārum, dēcrētās, dēcrēte, dēcrētī, dēcrētīs, dēcrētō, dēcrētōrum, dēcrētōs |
| future participle | dēcrētūrus | dēcernendus dēcernundus, dēcernenda, dēcernendā, dēcernendae, dēcernendam, dēcernendārum, dēcernendās, dēcernende, dēcernendīs, dēcernendōrum, dēcernendōs |
gerunddēcernendī, dēcernendō, dēcernendumsupinedēcrētum, dēcrētū
Phrases from Meissner's Latin Phrase-Book
- acie (armis, ferro) decernere
- to fight a pitched battle.
- decreta, inventa philosophorum
- the tenets, dogmas of philosophers.
- provinciam alicui decernere, mandare
- to entrust some one with an official duty, a province.
- senatus decrevit (populusque iussit) ut
- the senate decreed (and the people ratified the decree) that...
- triumphum senatus Africano decernit (Fin. 4. 9. 22)
- the senate decrees to Africanus the honours of a triumph.
- supplicium alicui decernere, in aliquem constituere
- to decree the penalty of death.
- supplicationem quindecim dierum decernere (Phil. 14. 14. 37)
- to decree a public thanksgiving for fifteen days.
dē-cerno, crēvi, crētum, 3 (the syncop. forms decreram, etc., decrerim, etc., decresse are freq. in Cicero and Liv., also Plaut. Curc. 5, 3, 25; Ter. Hec. 1, 2, 73; 2, 1, 15, but not in Caes., where is only decreverat, B. G. 4, 17; 5, 5
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.
Charlton Lewis's shorter dictionary for students: the same scholarship in plain, modern definitions.
dē-cernō crēvī
(often decrēram, decrērim, etc.), crētus, ere.—Officially, to decide, determine, pronounce a decision, judge, decree, resolve, vote : inter quos iam decreverat decretumque mutabat, alias, etc.: si caedes facta, īdem (Druides) decernunt, i. e. pass judgment, Cs.: non decrevi solum, sed etiam ut vos decerneretis laboravi: qui ordo decrevit invitus, on compulsion: dierum viginti supplicationem, Cs.: vindicias secundum servitutem, in favor of slavery, i. e. restore the slave to his master, L.: triumphum Africano: praemium servo libertatem, S.: tres legatos: id quod senatus me auctore decrevit: provinciae privatis decernuntur, Cs.: meā diligentiā patefactam esse coniurationem decrevistis: supplicium sumendum decreverat, had voted, S.: senatus Romae decrevit, ut, etc., L.: mea sententia tibi decernit, ut regem reducas, etc.: senatus decrevit, darent operam consules, ut, etc., S.: ita censeo decernendum: acerbissime decernitur, Cs.: in parricidas rei p. decretum esse, S.: libere decernendi potestas, of voting freely, Cs.—In gen., to decide, determine, judge, fix, settle: rem dubiam decrevit vox opportune emissa, L.: utri utris imperent, sine magnā clade, L.: Duo talenta pro re nostrā ego esse decrevi satis, T.: in quo omnia mea posita esse decrevi: mihi decretum est, with acc. and inf, I am fully convinced, Ta.: alqm hostem, to proclaim an enemy: omnibus quae postulaverat decretis, S.: pauci ferocius decernunt, insist on harsher measures, S.—Of battle, to decide by combat, fight out, fight, combat, contend: Samnis Romanusne Italiam regant, decernamus, L.: gladiatorium certamen ferro decernitur: ne armis decernatur: cornibus inter se, V.: acie, L.: classe decreturi, N.: integriore exercitu, N.: lacessere ad decernendum, L. — In gen., to contend, compete, struggle: decernite criminibus, mox ferro decreturi, L.: cursibus et crudo caestu, V.: de salute rei p.: pro meā famā.—To decide, determine, form a purpose, resolve: num quis quicquam decernit invitus?: Rhenum transire decreverat, Cs.: decretumst pati, T.: certum atque decretum est non dare signum, L.: aetatem a rei p. procul habendam, S.: praetoris imperio parendum esse: hic decernit ut miser sit: quā suis opem ferrent, L.
Origins
- Proto-Indo-European*de
- Proto-Indo-European*déh₁
- Proto-Italic*dē
- Latindēcernō
Latin de- Proto-Indo-European *krey-der. Proto-Italic *krinō Latin cernō Latin dēcernō From de- (“of; from, away from”) + cernō (“see, discern”).
Descendants
- Englishdecern
- Englishdecree
- Frenchdécerner
- Frenchdécréter
- Italiandecernere
- Italiandecretare
- Occitandecernir
- Spanishdecretar