precept
pronunciation
How to pronounce precept in British English:
UK [ˈpri:sept]
How to pronounce precept in American English:
US [ˈpriˌsɛpt]
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- Noun:
- rule of personal conduct
- a doctrine that is taught
Word Origin
- precept (n.)
- late 14c., from Old French percept, percet (12c.), from Latin praeceptum "maxim, rule of conduct, order," noun use of neuter past participle of praecipere "give rules to, order, advise," literally "take beforehand," from prae "before" (see pre-) + capere (past participle captus) "to take" (see capable). For change of vowel, see biennial.
Example
- 1. Their members are elected and they can charge a " precept " that is added to the borough council tax .
- 2. He had dared to change the only precept of the divine law that unmistakably points all mankind to the true and living god .
- 3. As to love our neighbour as we love ourselves is the great law of christianity , so it is the great precept of nature to love ourselves only as we love our neighbour , or what comes to the same thing , as our neighbour is capable of loving us .
- 4. Example is better than precept .
- 5. Example is the best precept .