Prĕ'cept, n.

n. [Fr. précepte, Sp. precepto, It. precetto, Lat. præceptum, from præcipere, to take beforehand, to instruct, teach, from præ, before, and cœpere, to take.] 1. Any commandment or order intended as an authoritative rule of action; especially, a command respecting moral conduct; an injunction; a direction to be followed. No arts are without their precepts. Dryden. 2. (Law.) A command in writing; a species of writ or process. Burrill. Syn.—Commandment; injunction; mandate; order; law; rule; direction; instruction; doctrine; principle; maxim.