commandment

Etymology

From Middle English comaundement, from Old French comandement, from comander. See command.

noun

  1. (religion) A divinely ordained command, especially one of the Ten Commandments.
    But besides having the bent of the affections towards Him, and desiring His favour, His near presence with us, there is that great rule of His, “This is love, that we walk after His commandments.” 1869, T. Valpy French, The Old Commandment New and True in Christ[…], Seeley, Jackson, and Halliday, page 256
    Even those commandments which have a rational basis are kept by Jews only because that is God's will (Aruch HaShulchan). This lesson is encapsulated in the story of Dama ben Nesina. 1998, Moshe Lieber, The Fifth Commandment: Honoring Parents : Laws, Insights, Stories and Ideas, Mesorah Publications, page 30
  2. (archaic) Something that must be obeyed; a command or edict.
  3. (law) The offence of commanding or inducing another to violate the law.
  4. (obsolete) The act of commanding; exercise of authority.

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