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. [ 1913 Webster ]

For precept must be upon precept. Isa. xxviii. 10. [ 1913 Webster ]

No arts are without their precepts. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Law) A command in writing; a species of writ or process. Burrill. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Commandment; injunction; mandate; law; rule; direction; principle; maxim. See Doctrine. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To teach by precepts. [ Obs. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Preceptive. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

[ Passion ] would give preceptial medicine to rage. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. praeceptio. ] A precept. [ R. ] Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. praeceptivus. ] Containing or giving precepts; of the nature of precepts; didactic; as, the preceptive parts of the Scriptures. [ 1913 Webster ]

The lesson given us here is preceptive to us. L'Estrange. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. praeceptor, fr. praecipere to teach: cf. F. précepteur. See Precept. ] 1. One who gives commands, or makes rules; specifically, the master or principal of a school; a teacher; an instructor. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The head of a preceptory among the Knights Templars. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to a preceptor. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Preceptive. “A law preceptory.” Anderson (1573). [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Preceptories [ LL. praeceptoria an estate assigned to a preceptor, from L. praeceptor a commander, ruler, teacher, in LL., procurator, administrator among the Knights Templars. See Preceptor. ] A religious house of the Knights Templars, subordinate to the temple or principal house of the order in London. See Commandery, n., 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A woman who is the principal of a school; a female teacher. [ 1913 Webster ]