Praecepi

Praecepi is a Latin verb form that functions as the first-person singular perfect active indicative of the verb praecipio. The related principal parts are praecipio, praecepi, praeceptum. The standard meaning centers on giving orders, instructions, or forewarnings in advance, with nuances ranging from formal command to admonition.

Etymology and sense: Praecipio comes from the prefix prae- meaning “before” and capio meaning “to take” or “to seize.” In its classical usage, praecipio can mean to instruct, to order someone to do something, or to forewarn. The noun praeceptum (and the related adjective praecipta) derive from the same root and refer to a rule, instruction, or precept.

Usage and context: In Latin texts, praecipio is used to describe issuing commands or precepts. It can govern a clause with ut or be used with a dative of the person commanded, depending on the construction. The form praecepi, as the perfect tense, conveys that the instruction or order was given in the past by the speaker. Examples in historical Latin might translate to “I ordered you to work diligently” or “I instructed the soldiers in advance.”

Relation to other terms: The verb praecipio is closely related to praecipere, which emphasizes giving orders or instructions, and to praeceptum, the noun form for a precept or instruction. In modern scholarship, praecepi appears primarily in Latin texts and dictionaries that note the principal parts and semantic range.

See also: praecipio; praecipere; praeceptum; precept.