Basic Details
Word: Precept
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: A rule or principle that tells you how to behave or think.
Synonyms: rule, principle, guideline, maxim
Word origin: From Latin praeceptum, something taught or ordered.
How to Spell Precept
Syllables: pre - cept
Tricky part: The s sound in the middle is written c, not s (presept). The ending is cept, the same as in concept and except.
Watch out for: presept, precipt, preceipt, precepte
Memory tip: Swap the con of concept for pre and you have precept. The cept part stays exactly the same.
Usage Examples
Example 1: Sharing your food with a hungry friend was a precept my grandmother lived by.
Example 2: The school's founder set down ten precepts for every student to follow.
Example 3: Patience is a precept that every good gardener learns.
Fun Fact
The word is often used for the moral rules of old teachings, such as the five precepts followed by many Buddhists.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Only one of these words is spelt correctly. Choose its meaning:
1. porcelan 2. pinnacel 3. pedestle 4. precept
a) a rule that guides how you should behave
b) the highest point of something
c) the base on which a statue stands
d) a fine, hard white china
Show answer
a) a rule that guides how you should behave. Pedestal, porcelain and pinnacle all carry a slip, so precept is the word whose meaning you want.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word precept as used in the sentence:
The first precept of the cycling club was simple: always wait for the slowest rider.
a) rule
b) secret
c) meeting
d) prize
Show answer
a) rule. A precept tells members what to do, so it is a rule.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the word in the sentence and choose it:
Honesty is the oldest tcpreep in our family.
a) precept
b) prefect
c) concept
d) receipt
Show answer
a) precept. Receipt hides an i, concept an o and n, and prefect an f; precept is what is left.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of these sounds like a precept?
a) Treat others as you wish to be treated.
b) My shoes are under the bed.
c) The train is ten minutes late.
d) It rained heavily all night.
Show answer
a) Treat others as you wish to be treated.
2. A teacher or trainer, from the same Latin root as precept, is called a ____.
a) predator
b) preceptor
c) precipice
d) precinct
Show answer
b) preceptor
