commandment meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

commandment

nounalso spelled Commandment

UK /kəˈmɑːndmənt/ · US /kəˈmændmənt/

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

Lifestyle, Religion A divinely ordained command, especially one of the Ten Commandments.

A new commandement I giue vnto you, That yee loue one another, as I haue loued you, that yee alſo loue one another.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, John 13:34:
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:

1 more example

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, →ISBN, page 30:

Archaic, Humorous Something that must be obeyed; a command or edict.

Pau. Pray you then, / Conduct me to the Queene. / Gao. I may not (Madam) / To the contrary I haue expreſſe commandment.c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii], page 283, column 2:
The HIG delivers Apple's design commandments, the company's definition of what it means to be a good iPhone citizen.2010, Josh Clark, Tapworthy: Designing Great iPhone Apps, O'Reilly, →ISBN, page 99:

Law The offence of commanding or inducing another to violate the law.

Obsolete The act of commanding; exercise of authority.

To rule, is vnderſtoode to haue the higheſt and ſupreme authoritie of commaundement.1562–1565 (date written), Thomas Smyth [i.e., Thomas Smith], “Of the Diuersities of Common Wealthes or Gouernement”, in De Republica Anglorum. The Maner of Gouernement or Policie of the Realme of England, […], London: […] Henrie Midleton for Gregorie Seton, published 1583, →OCLC, page 1:
Speake you ſo gently? Pardon me I pray you, / I thought that all things had bin ſauage heere, / And therefore put I on the countenance / Of ſterne command'ment.c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene vii], page 296:

noun

Any of the Ten Commandments.