Pre"cept (?), n. [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) A command in writing; a species of writ or process. Burrill. Syn. -- Commandment; injunction; mandate; law; rule; direction; principle; maxim. See Doctrine. © Webster 1913
Pre"cept, v. t. To teach by precepts. [Obs.] Bacon. © Webster 1913
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