commandment

[ kuh-mand-muhnt, -mahnd- ]

noun

1. a command or mandate.
2. (sometimes initial capital letter) any of the Ten Commandments.
3. the act or power of commanding. commanding.

commandment

/ kəˈmɑːndmənt /

noun

1. a divine command, esp one of the Ten Commandments of the Old Testament
2. literary.
   any command

Word History and Origins

Origin of commandment¹

1200–50; Middle English com ( m ) and ( e ) ment < Anglo-French, Old French com ( m ) andement. See command, -ment

Example Sentences

The practice is derived from the Bible's fourth commandment which states "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy".

From BBC

A village priest in Kostroma region was fined for discrediting Russia's armed forces after praying for peace and mentioning the sixth commandment, "Thou shalt not kill".

From BBC

In its ruling, the Supreme Court said the requirement that the Ten Commandments be posted "had no secular legislative purpose" and was "plainly religious in nature" - noting that the commandments made references to worshipping God.

From BBC

The measure in Louisiana requires that the commandments be displayed in each classroom of every public elementary, middle and high school, as well as public college classrooms.

From New York Times

His crime: taking too seriously the biblical commandment to love thy neighbor and the injunction not to kill.

From New York Times

Related Words

• edict
• precept