precept Hear it!

precept Definition

pre·cept (prē′sept′)

noun

  1. a commandment or direction meant as a rule of action or conduct
  2. a rule of moral conduct; maxim
  3. a rule or direction, as in technical matters
  4. Law a written order; writ

Etymology: ME < L praeceptum < praecipere, to admonish, teach < prae-, before (see pre-) + capere, to take

precept Synonyms

precept

n.

doctrine, statute, rule; see law 3. See syn. study at doctrine.

precept Usage Examples

Preposition: of

Christianity: To deny ourselves is one of the first and most glorious precepts of christianity.

Converse of object

  • violate: This violates every precept of English law as well as natural justice.
  • obey: He fulfilled the law because He did it - the only man ever in time who was able to obey these precepts.
  • observe: We can notice the degree of mettaa a person has by the way in which he observes the five precepts.
  • lay: First prove to us that the precepts laid down in your sacred records are fully practiced by the professors of your religion.
  • keep: I will learn Of them to take upon myself and keep The precepts.
  • reflect: However, it was clear that their design and operation generally reflected the precepts of the Code of practice.

Adjective modifier

  • moral: Following the moral precepts of the Daily Mail, for example, is more likely to make you afraid than content.
  • thy: Lord, I am thine; O save thou me: thy precepts I have sought.
  • fundamental: A fundamental precept of science is the freedom enjoyed by the theorist in devising hypotheses.
  • ethical: The socialist utopia is an ethical precept rather than a state of affairs which has to be brought about.
  • religious: It is also taken to mean that no religious precept must be challenged by the organs of society.
  • basic: I read a couple of books about Islam, which explained its basic precepts.

Modifies a noun

equalization: The cuts associated with precept equalization have been avoided.

Noun used with modifier

  • Buddhist: And what about the Buddhist precept of not taking life?
  • thy: I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
  • parish: There was some disagreement about whether parish precepts affected the capping of the Boroughs council tax setting.
  • council: The local council tax precept for policing is the second lowest in the country.
  • tax: The local council tax precept for policing is the second lowest in the country.
  • police: Their salaries should be deducted from the enormous police precepts raised in the council tax.