preceptive, a.
(prɪˈsɛptɪv)
[ad. late L. præceptīvus didactic, hortatory, or a. obs. F. préceptif (14th c. in Godef.): see precept n. and -ive.]
1. Of the nature of, pertaining to, or conveying a precept. a. Conveying a command, mandatory.
| 1456 Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 106 The pape has power preceptive apon thame. 1624 F. White Repl. Fisher 484 Our Sauiours words, Doe this in remembrance of me, are not Preceptiue. 1672 Toleration not to be Abused 15 The Law hath two parts,..the Preceptive and the Punitive. 1786 A. Gib Sacr. Contempl. 28 The penalty, as well as the preceptive tenor of that law, was sufficiently notified to him. 1845 Jebb in Encycl. Metrop. II. 687/1 The preceptive part is the law properly so called: it includes the whole of the commands and prohibitions of the lawgiver. |
b. Conveying instructions or maxims; didactic, instructive.
| 1678 R. L'Estrange Seneca, Epist. iv. (1696) 483 Cleanthes allows the Parænetic, or Preceptive Philosophy, to be in some sort Profitable. 1711 Shaftesbury Charac. (1737) I. ii. ii. 258 The didactive or preceptive Manner. 1834 Fraser's Mag. X. 41 Denham's poetry must have been too grave and preceptive for the profligate gaiety of the habits of the monarch. 1884 Friend Dec. 297/2 The whole treatise is preceptive and hortatory. |
† 2. According to precept. Obs. rare.
| 1684 T. Hockin God's Decrees ix. 77 The branch..had no innate and immediate vertue to make the bitter waters sweet [at Marah], but by the preceptive use of it. |
Hence preˈceptively adv., in a preceptive manner; in the way of precept or command.
| 1633 Ames Agst. Cerem. ii. 281 God willeth..Ceremonies, onely permissively, not præceptively. 1651 Rec. Communion §7 In any thing that is held forth in the Word of God, as præceptively to worthy receiving necessary. |