precept
Americannoun
-
a commandment or direction given as a rule of action or conduct.
- Synonyms:
- prescription, instruction, guide, order, directive
-
an injunction as to moral conduct; maxim.
-
a procedural directive or rule, as for the performance of some technical operation.
-
Law.
-
a writ or warrant.
-
a written order issued pursuant to law, as a sheriff's order for an election.
-
noun
-
a rule or principle for action
-
a guide or rule for morals; maxim
-
a direction, esp for a technical operation
-
law
-
a writ or warrant
-
a written order to a sheriff to arrange an election, the empanelling of a jury, etc
-
(in England) an order to collect money under a rate
-
Etymology
Origin of precept
1300–50; Middle English < Latin praeceptum piece of advice, rule, noun use of neuter of praeceptus, past participle of praecipere to direct, foresee, literally, to take beforehand, equivalent to prae- pre- + -cep-, combining form of capere to take + -tus past participle suffix
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Arthur Schlesinger Jr. seemed to agree when he wrote that “the language of the new nation, its laws, its institutions, its political ideas, its literature, its customs, its precepts, its prayers, primarily derived from Britain.”
Baseball isn’t Davis’ only passion — nor is it the only thing that has recently tested some of his most deeply-held precepts.
From Los Angeles Times
We can recite the precepts—move more, eat carefully, sleep well, don’t smoke—even if we occasionally struggle with the practice.
Council tax includes a so-called police precept, which helps fund services such as regular community policing.
From BBC
She goes against his precepts and disobeys his orders — they appear as onscreen italic titles — and he gets stroppy, as a father would.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
