commandment

What it means

1. countableuncountablelifestyleA 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

   2 more examples

   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, →ISBN, page 30

2. archaiccountablehumorousuncountableSomething that must be obeyed; a command or edict.

   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

   1 more example

   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

3. countableuncountablelawThe offence of commanding or inducing another to violate the law.

In a sentence

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

Where it comes from

1. Old Frenchcomandement
2. Middle Englishcomaundement
3. Englishcommandment

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