praeceptum Latin · revision 10116

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Plautus|origins=la praecipiō}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''praeceptum''' ''n'' (genitive praeceptī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+ Inscriptions have the ablatives ''praeceptū'' and ''preceptū''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the neuter of the participle of [[praecipiō]] “to take beforehand; to instruct”, used as a noun, from [[m|la|prae-]] and [[capiō]] “to take”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's earliest citations are Plautus, of advice and of an order.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant a piece of advice, teaching, precept, and an instruction or order, both in Plautus, and in Cicero a principle, rule.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it means precept, command, law, ordinance, especially a command of a lawful superior binding on its subjects.^(Stelten 1995) Medieval Latin used it for a royal edict, a royal charter and a papal privilege.^(Niermeyer 1976) English ''precept'' (late 14th century) is from it.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of advice and orders.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a rule.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – English ''precept'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A piece of advice, [[m|en|precept]].^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # An instruction, [[m|en|order]], command.^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # A [[m|en|principle]], rule.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A royal edict or [[m|en|charter]].^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[praecipiō]]

+ * [[praeceptor]]

+ * [[capiō]]

+ * [[en|precept]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}