/di kreet"l/ , adj.
1. pertaining to, of the nature of, or containing a decree or decrees.
n.
2. a papal decree authoritatively determining some point of doctrine or church law.
3. Decretals , the body or collection of such decrees as a part of the canon law.
[ 1350-1400; ME decretalis fixed by decree, equiv. to decret ( um ) DECREE + -alis -AL 1 ]