• (RP) IPA: /kəˈmɑːndmənt/
• (America) IPA: /kəˈmændmənt/

commandment

1. (religion) A divinely ordained command, especially one of the Ten Commandments.
   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), imprinted at London: By Robert Barker, […], OCLC 964384981 ↗, John 13:34 ↗:

     A new commandement I giue vnto you, That yee loue one another, as I haue loued you, that yee alſo loue one another.

2. (archaic) Something that must be obeyed; a command or edict.
   • c. 1610–1611, William Shakespeare, “The VVinters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act II, scene ii], page 283 ↗, column 2:

     Pau. Pray you then,

     Conduct me to the Queene.

     Gao. I may not (Madam)

     To the contrary I haue expreſſe commandment.

3. (obsolete) The act of commanding; exercise of authority.
   • c. 1598–1600, William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act II, scene vii], page 296 ↗, columns 1–2:

     Orl. Speake you ſo gently ? Pardon me I pray you,

     I thought that all things had bin ſauage heere,

     And therefore put I on the countenance

     Of ſterne command'ment.

4. (legal) The offence of commanding or inducing another to violate the law.

• French: commandement
• German: Gebot
• Italian: comandamento
• Portuguese: mandamento
• Russian: за́поведь
• Spanish: mandamiento

commandment (plural commandments)

1. Any of the Ten Commandments.