Dictionary formpraeceptum, praecepti(neuter)
Translation
precept, rule; instruction, command
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Grammar
Cases
| Case | singular | plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominativethe subject | praeceptum | praecepta |
| Vocativecalling someone: O ... | praeceptum | praecepta |
| Accusativethe direct object; after ad, in (into), per | praeceptum | praecepta |
| Genitiveof | praecepti | praeceptorum |
| Dativeto, for | praecepto | praeceptis |
| Ablativeby, with, from; after a, ab, cum, de, e, ex, in (in), sine | praecepto | praeceptis |
Examples
.
Keep the teacher's precepts.
.
I give you a new commandment.
paruit.
He obeyed the precepts of the fathers.
.
These precepts are short.
.
He did nothing without an instruction.
Praeceptum, praecepti is second declension neuter, the perfect passive participle of praecipio, "I instruct", pressed into service as a noun. A praeceptum is a rule handed down by someone with the standing to hand it down: a teacher, a father, a bishop, a god. That is why the praeceptor is the schoolmaster.
Two practical notes. The word is close in sense to mandatum, but a mandatum is a specific order to a specific person while a praeceptum is a standing rule. And this corpus spells it both ways: medieval scribes flattened ae to e, so precepto and praecepto are the same word in the same text, sometimes on the same page. Read past the spelling.
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praeceptum: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the Latin word "praeceptum" (precept, rule; instruction, command): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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Start your free weekThis word is taught in chapter 8, lesson 8: praeceptum, furor, iudex and 7 more words.