decretum horribile
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Latin[edit]
Etymology[edit]
Literally “the fearful decree”, though the horribile is often interpreted as “worthy of horror”. Introduced as a fixed phrase by John Calvin.
Noun[edit]
dēcrētum horribile n sg (genitive dēcrētī horribilis); second declension
- (Ecclesiastical Latin) predestination (Calvinist doctrine)
- 1620, Johannes Gisenius, Calvinismus, hoc est, errorum Zwinglio-Calvinianorum methodica enumeratio […] , front matter:
- Decreti horribilis mendacia tollite vana, / Non homines odit, quos creat ipse, Deus.
- You spread vain lies of the fearful decree, / God does not hate men, which he himself creates.
- 1652, Marcus Friedrich Wendelin, Exercitationes theologicae vindicies, pro theologia Christiana, page 259:
- Anne vero religiosius divina permissio appellari valde horribilis à vobis potest, quàm à Calvino, decretum horribile: cavillationum vos pudeat.
- As for whether you may label divine permission more piously extremely fearful, the fearful decree as in Calvin: be ashamed of your sophistries.
Declension[edit]
Second-declension noun (neuter) with a third-declension adjective, singular only.
| Case | Singular |
|---|---|
| Nominative | dēcrētum horribile |
| Genitive | dēcrētī horribilis |
| Dative | dēcrētō horribilī |
| Accusative | dēcrētum horribile |
| Ablative | dēcrētō horribilī |
| Vocative | dēcrētum horribile |