commandment
UK: kəˈmɑːndmənt | US: kəˈmændmənt
n. a divine rule or law, especially one of the Ten Commandments in the Bible
n. an authoritative command or instruction
commandment = command<order> + ment<noun suffix>
- command: From Old French comander (to order, direct), derived from Latin commandare (to entrust, commit), combining com- (intensive) + mandare (to order).
- -ment: A suffix forming nouns indicating the result or means of an action (e.g., government, achievement), from Latin -mentum.
Etymology Origin:
The word commandment emerged in Middle English (13th century) through Old French, rooted in Latin commandare. It originally conveyed the idea of "entrusting" or "issuing orders," later narrowing to signify divine laws, particularly the biblical Ten Commandments. The suffix -ment solidifies its role as a noun denoting the product or concept of commanding.
The Ten Commandments are central to Judeo-Christian ethics.
The king issued a commandment forbidding trade with rival nations.
She treated her father’s advice as a sacred commandment.
The monastery strictly follows the commandments of its founder.
Modern laws often reflect the moral principles of ancient commandments.