Precept

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. Any commandment, instruction, or order intended as an authoritative rule of action; esp., a command respecting moral conduct; an injunction; a rule. For precept must be upon precept. Isa. xxviii. 10. No arts are without their precepts. Dryden.

2. A command in writing; a species of writ or process. Burrill.

Synonyms: Commandment; injunction; mandate; law; rule; direction; principle; maxim. See Doctrine.

Part of speech: verb (v.)

To teach by precepts. [Obs.] Bacon.