commandment

 
Pronunciation: /kəˈmɑːndmənt/

noun

  • a divine rule, especially one of the Ten Commandments: the Sabbath had to be kept as ordered in the Fourth Commandment
  • humorous a rule to be observed as strictly as one of the Ten Commandments: she had followed her mother’s commandments for long enough

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French comandement, from comander 'to command' (see command)