An order or injunction given by authority; a command; a charge; a precept; a mandate. [1913 Webster]
"A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another." [1913 Webster]
One of the ten laws or precepts given by God to the Israelites at Mount Sinai. [1913 Webster]
The act of commanding; exercise of authority. [1913 Webster]
"And therefore put I on the countenance
Of stern commandment." [1913 Webster]
The offense of commanding or inducing another to violate the law. [1913 Webster]

The Commandments, The Ten Commandments, the Decalogue, or summary of God's commands, given to Moses at Mount Sinai. (Ex. xx.)

top

OXFORD DICTIONARY

commandment, n. a divine command.

Idiom

the Ten Commandments the divine rules of conduct given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai, according to Exod. 20:1-17.

Etymology

ME f. OF comandement (as COMMAND)

top

THESAURUS

commandment

behest, bidding, canon, code, command, convention, dictate, dictation, dictum, direct order, form, formula, general principle, golden rule, guideline, guiding principle, hest, imperative, law, maxim, mitzvah, moral, norm, order, ordinance, pleasure, principium, principle, regulation, rubric, rule, say-so, settled principle, special order, standard, tenet, will, word, word of command, working principle, working rule

For further exploring for "commandment" in Webster Dictionary Online