A divine rule or law, especially one of the Ten Commandments; any authoritative order or rule.
From Old French 'comandement', from 'comander' (to command). Ultimately from Latin 'commendare' (to entrust, commit to one's charge). Religious usage solidified through biblical translations.
The weight of 'commandment' versus simple 'command' shows how adding suffixes can elevate secular orders to sacred laws - the '-ment' ending transforms a military term into something divinely ordained.
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