precept C1 Topic:Abstract Ideas US /ˈpriːsɛpt/ UK /ˈpriːsɛpt/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 noun a general rule or principle intended to regulate behavior or thought The precept of honesty is fundamental in building trust. 2 noun a written order issued by a legal authority to act in a certain way The court issued a precept to enforce the new regulation. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 noun · a general rule or principle... principleguidelineruledirectiveinstruction 2 noun · a written order issued by a... orderdirectivewritmandate More teachingdoctrinetenetmaximaxiom Etymology AI details From Latin prae- ('before') + capere ('to take'), forming praeceptum ('rule; command'); via Old French precepte into Middle English precept 'rule; guiding principle'. Topics Abstract Ideas External links Google Images Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary # precept **Type:** Word **Level:** C1 **Part of speech:** noun **IPA (US):** /ˈpriːsɛpt/ **IPA (UK):** /ˈpriːsɛpt/ ## Meanings 1. a general rule or principle intended to regulate behavior or thought 2. a written order issued by a legal authority to act in a certain way ## Examples - The precept of honesty is fundamental in building trust. - The court issued a precept to enforce the new regulation. ## Synonyms - principle - guideline - rule - directive - instruction - teaching - doctrine - tenet - maxim - axiom ## Etymology From Latin prae- ('before') + capere ('to take'), forming praeceptum ('rule; command'); via Old French precepte into Middle English precept 'rule; guiding principle'. ## AI Etymology Precept comes from Latin prae- ('before') + capere ('to take'), forming praeceptum ('rule; command'); via Old French precepte into Middle English precept 'rule; guiding principle'. In current use it is a noun meaning "a general rule or principle intended to regulate behavior or thought". That sense is explained by the older material without requiring a speculative semantic step: the inherited or borrowed base supplies the field of meaning, while the English formation fixes its modern role. The surface form is compositional: its joined elements remain visible in the modern word. The word's history is thus visible in its construction: the components remain interpretable even after the whole expression has settled into a conventional English meaning. ## Topics - Abstract Ideas markdown