decretum horribile

Latin

Etymology

Literally “the fearful decree”, though the horribile is often interpreted as “worthy of horror”. Introduced as a fixed phrase by John Calvin.

Noun

dēcrētum horribile n sg (genitive dēcrētī horribilis); second declension

1. (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

Second-declension noun (neuter) with a third-declension adjective, singular only.

	singular
nominative	dēcrētum horribile
genitive	dēcrētī horribilis
dative	dēcrētō horribilī
accusative	dēcrētum horribile
ablative	dēcrētō horribilī
vocative	dēcrētum horribile