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Fitted or intended to teach; conveying instruction; preceptive; instructive; teaching some moral lesson; as, didactic essays. "Didactical writings." Jer. Taylor. The finest didactic poem in any language. Macaulay.

Didactic; preceptive. [R.] Prior.

Having power to direct; tending to direct, guide, or govern; showing the way. Hooker. The precepts directive of our practice in relation to God. Barrow.

The state of being a disciple or follower in doctrines and precepts. Jer. Taylor.

To be inconsistent with, or act contrary to, the precepts of the gospel; to pervert the gospel. [Obs.] Milton.

That which is taught or authoritatively set forth; precept; instruction; dogma. [Obs.] Learners should not be too much crowded with a heap or multitude of documents or ideas at one time. I. Watts.

e entertainment of Christ by faith. Baxter. The sincere entertainment and practice of the precepts of the gospel. Bp. Sprat.

An instance serving for illustration of a rule or precept, especially a problem to be solved, or a case to be determined, as an exercise in the application of the rules of any study or branch of science; as, in trigonometry and grammar, the principles and rules are illustrated by examples.

ded to instruct or amuse; a fictitious narration intended to enforce some useful truth or precept; an apologue. See the Note under Apologue. Jotham's fable of the trees is the oldest extant. Addison .

eognis and Solon, of the sixth century B. C., whose writings consist of short sententious precepts and reflections.

ortuitous elegance; unstudied grace; -- used especially of language. Some beauties yet no precepts can declare, For there's a happiness, as well as care. Pope.

; abusive; abusive; severe; rough. Clarence is so harsh, so blunt. Shak. Though harsh the precept, yet the charmed. Dryden.

Command; precept; injunction. [Archaic] See Behest. "At thy hest." Shak. Let him that yields obey the victor's hest. Fairfax. Yet I thy hest will all perform, at full. Tennyson.

That which is enjoined; an order; a mandate; a decree; a command; a precept; a direction. For still they knew,and ought to have still remembered, The high injunction,not to taste that fruit. Milton. Necessary as the injunctions of lawful authority. South.

me all follies and insinuates virtue, rather by familiar examples than by the severity of precepts. Dryden.

Instance; urgency. [Obs.] Those heavenly precepts which our Lord and Savior with so great instancy gave. Hooker.

Hence: An elementary and necessary principle; a precept, maxim, or rule, recognized as established and authoritative; usually in the plural, a collection of such principles and precepts; esp., a comprehensive summary of legal principles and decisions; as, the Institutes of Justinian; Coke's Institutes of the Laws of En…

ructs, or with which one is instructed; the intelligence or information imparted; as: (a) Precept; information; teachings. (b) Direction; order; command. "If my instructions may be your guide." Shak.

A woman who instructs; a preceptress; a governess. Johnson.

s. Short isolated sentences were the mode in which ancient wisdom delighted to convey its precepts. Bp. Warburton.