transitive verb
1. : to transmit in succession (as from father to son or from predecessor to successor)
the family property was handed down from generation to generation
2.
a. : to deliver to the proper office of an inferior court (the decision or opinion of an appellate court)
b. : to make official formulation of and express (the opinion of any court)
c. : to promulgate (as a policy) with authoritative force brooking no opposition
the dictator handed down his decision