Decalogue
/ˈdɛkəˌlɔːɡ/noun
The Ten Commandments, especially as a body of biblical law.
Did you know?The word comes through Greek from Hebrew tradition, where the Ten Commandments were called the “Ten Words,” showing how ancient law could be framed as spoken power.
Etymological Timeline
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
ʿăśeret haddevarim
“the Ten Words / Ten Sayings”
Ancient Greek
Greek
dekalogos
“ten words; the Ten Commandments”
Late Latin
Latin
decalogus
“the Decalogue, the Ten Commandments”
Middle English
English
decalogue
“the Ten Commandments”
Modern English
English
decalogue
“the Ten Commandments”