[pre.cept] n [ME, fr. L praeceptum, fr. neut. of praeceptus, pp. of praecipere to take beforehand, instruct, fr. prae- + capere to take--more at heave] (14c) 1: a command or principle intended esp. as a general rule of action
2: an order issued by legally constituted authority to a subordinate official syn see law