Category:Precept

Pre"cept, n. Etym: [l. praeceptum, from praecipere to take Beforehand, to instruct, teach; prae before + capere to take: cf. F. Précepte. See pre-, and capacious.]

1. Any commandment, instruction, or order intended as an Authoritative rule of action; esp., a command respecting moral Conduct; an injunction; a rule. For precept must be upon precept. Isa. xxviii. 10. No arts are without their precepts. Dryden.

2. (law)

Defn: a command in writing; a species of writ or process. Burrill.

Syn. -- commandment; injunction; mandate; law; rule; direction; Principle; maxim. See doctrine.

Precept Pre"cept, v. t.

Defn: to teach by precepts. [obs.] Bacon.