decretal: Meaning and Definition of

de•cre•tal

Pronunciation: (di-krēt'l), [key]
— adj.
  1. pertaining to, of the nature of, or containing a decree or decrees.
—n.
  1. a papal decree authoritatively determining some point of doctrine or church law.
  2. the body or collection of such decrees as a part of the canon law.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.