praecipuisti

Praecipuisti is a Latin verb form that appears in classical and later Latin texts. In most grammars it is analyzed as the second-person singular perfect active indicative of the verb praecipio, praecipere, or of its related form praecipere, meaning to take beforehand, to instruct, or to order. Because Latin morphology sometimes presents variation in spelling and stem formation, praecipuisti is treated as a form arising from that root with the standard perfect ending -isti for the second person singular.

Etymology and formation: the underlying sense derives from the prefix prae- “before” combined with a stem related to capere “to take” or Latin equivalents of “to seize; to grasp.” The combination yields senses such as to take beforehand, to foresee, to instruct, or to order in advance. The exact sense in a given text hinges on the particular verb sense being applied (to instruct, to warn, to order, etc.).

Usage and interpretation: as a perfect tense form, praecipuisti would convey a completed action addressed to the listener (you), such as having instructed or ordered beforehand, depending on the intended meaning of the overarching verb. Because this form is less common and Latin spelling varied across authors and periods, precise interpretation can depend on context and manuscript tradition. It is primarily of interest to students of Latin morphology, philology, and textual criticism.

See also: praecipio, praecipere, praecipit, praecipui; praecipuus for related lexical material; Latin verb forms and perfect tenses in classical Latin.

Note: interpretations may vary by edition, and some scholars treat praecipuisti as a form arising from praecipio/praecipere with regional or historical spelling differences.