LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
verbthird conjugation

dēcernō

dēcernō (present infinitive dēcernere, perfect active dēcrēvī, supine dēcrētum)
Classical[deːˈkɛr.noː]Ecclesiastical[deˈt͡ʃɛr.no]
dēcrētus perf. pass. ptcp.№ 800 of the 1,000 commonest wordsMille Verba core vocabulary

Meaning

  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. 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
fīrmiter statuō
dēcernō -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

active indicative
formpresentimperfectfutureperfectpluperfectfut. perfect
1st sg.dēcernōdēcernēbamdēcernamdēcrēvīdēcrēveram
dēcrēram
dēcrēverō
dēcrērō
2nd sg.dēcernisdēcernēbāsdēcernēsdēcrēvistī
dēcrēstī
dēcrēverās
dēcrērās
dēcrēveris
dēcrēris
3rd sg.dēcernitdēcernēbatdēcernetdēcrēvit
dēcrēt
dēcrēverat
dēcrērat
dēcrēverit
dēcrērit
1st pl.dēcernimusdēcernēbāmusdēcernēmusdēcrēvimus
dēcrēmus
dēcrēverāmus
dēcrērāmus
dēcrēverimus
dēcrērimus
2nd pl.dēcernitisdēcernēbātisdēcernētisdēcrēvistis
dēcrēstis
dēcrēverātis
dēcrērātis
dēcrēveritis
dēcrēritis
3rd pl.dēcernuntdēcernēbantdēcernentdēcrēvērunt
dēcrērunt, dēcrēvēre
dēcrēverant
dēcrērant
dēcrēverint
dēcrērint
active subjunctive
active subjunctive
formpresentimperfectperfectpluperfect
1st sg.dēcernamdēcerneremdēcrēverim
dēcrērim
dēcrēvissem
dēcrēssem
2nd sg.dēcernāsdēcernerēsdēcrēverīs
dēcrērīs
dēcrēvissēs
dēcrēssēs
3rd sg.dēcernatdēcerneretdēcrēverit
dēcrērit
dēcrēvisset
dēcrēsset
1st pl.dēcernāmusdēcernerēmusdēcrēverīmus
dēcrērīmus
dēcrēvissēmus
dēcrēssēmus
2nd pl.dēcernātisdēcernerētisdēcrēverītis
dēcrērītis
dēcrēvissētis
dēcrēssētis
3rd pl.dēcernantdēcernerentdēcrēverint
dēcrērint
dēcrēvissent
dēcrēssent
passive indicative
passive indicative
formpresentimperfectfuture
1st sg.dēcernordēcernēbardēcernar
2nd sg.dēcerneris
dēcernere
dēcernēbāris
dēcernēbāre
dēcernēris
dēcernēre
3rd sg.dēcerniturdēcernēbāturdēcernētur
1st pl.dēcernimurdēcernēbāmurdēcernēmur
2nd pl.dēcerniminīdēcernēbāminīdēcernēminī
3rd pl.dēcernunturdēcernēbanturdēcernentur
passive subjunctive
passive subjunctive
formpresentimperfect
1st sg.dēcernardēcernerer
2nd sg.dēcernāris
dēcernāre
dēcernerēris
dēcernerēre
3rd sg.dēcernāturdēcernerētur
1st pl.dēcernāmurdēcernerēmur
2nd pl.dēcernāminīdēcernerēminī
3rd pl.dēcernanturdēcernerentur
imperative
imperative
formactivepassive
pres. 2nd sg.dēcernedēcernere
pres. 2nd pl.dēcernitedēcerniminī
fut. 2nd sg.dēcernitōdēcernitor
fut. 3rd sg.dēcernitōdēcernitor
fut. 2nd pl.dēcernitōte—
fut. 3rd pl.dēcernuntōdēcernuntor
infinitives & participles
formactivepassive
present infinitivedēcerneredēcernī
perfect infinitivedēcrēvisse
dēcrēsse
dēcrētum esse
future infinitivedēcrētūrum essedēcrētum īrī
present participledēcernēns—
perfect participle—dēcrētus
dēcrēta, dēcrētā, dēcrētae, dēcrētam, dēcrētārum, dēcrētās, dēcrēte, dēcrētī, dēcrētīs, dēcrētō, dēcrētōrum, dēcrētōs
future participledēcrētūrusdēcernendus
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.

Origins

  1. Proto-Indo-European*de
  2. Proto-Indo-European*déh₁
  3. Proto-Italic*dē
  4. 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

In English words that came into English from dēcernō

  • decerndēcernō
  • decretorydēcrētōrius

Quick answers

What does dēcernō mean in Latin?
dēcernō, a verb, means “to decide, decide upon, settle, determine (especially something disputed or doubtful); to pronounce a decision concerning something; decide, determine, judge, declare, decree”.
What are the principal parts of dēcernō?
dēcernō, dēcernere, dēcrēvī, dēcrētum (third conjugation).
How do you pronounce dēcernō?
In classical Latin, [deːˈkɛr.noː]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [deˈt͡ʃɛr.no].
Where does dēcernō come from?
Proto-Indo-European *de → Proto-Indo-European *déh₁ → Proto-Italic *dē → Latin dēcernō.