1766, in reference to Protestants, from dissident (adj.). In the political sense first used 1940, coinciding with the rise of 20c. totalitarian systems, especially with reference to the Soviet Union. Online Etymology Dictionary, Â© 2010 Douglas Harper Cite This Source
Decree (verb) to determine judicially by authority, or by decree; to constitute by edict; to appoint by decree or law; to determine; to order; to ordain; as, a court decrees a restoration of property Decree (verb) to ordain by fate
Ac., ii, 9), and sometimes, a public decree or ordinance, as dogma poieisthai . In Sacred Scripture it is used, at one time, in the sense of a decree or edict of the civil authority, as in Luke, ii, 1: And it came to pass, that in those days there went out a decree [edictum, dogma ] from Caesar Augustus  (cf.