decalogue

noun

deca·​logue ˈde-kə-ˌlȯg 

-ˌläg

1

capitalized : ten commandments

2

: a basic set of rules carrying binding authority

Did you know?

In decalogue the root deca- is combined with logos, Greek for "word". In the Biblical book of Exodus, the original Decalogue, or Ten Commandments, was handed to Moses by God atop Mount Sinai. In Jewish and Christian tradition, the Ten Commandments are regarded as laws handed down from the highest authority and as the foundation of morality. They include commands to honor God, the Sabbath day, and one's parents, and bans on worshiping images, swearing, murder, adultery, theft, lying about others, and envying what others have. Individuals have often had their own personal decalogues; Thomas Jefferson's "ten commandments" started off with "Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today".

Synonyms

• canon
• code
• constitution
• law

Examples of decalogue in a Sentence

the decalogue for scouting known as the Scout Oath

Recent Examples on the Web

Freedom from hard collars, from the decalogue, from parental admonitions. —John Dos Passos, National Review, 28 Sep. 2020

Word History

Etymology

Middle English decaloge, from Late Latin decalogus, from Greek dekalogos, from deka- + logos word — more at legend

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

decalogue

noun

dec·​a·​logue

ˈdek-ə-ˌlȯg,

-ˌläg

1

capitalized : ten commandments

2

: a basic set of rules that must be obeyed