decalogue
C2Formal, Literary, Theological
Definition
Meaning
The Ten Commandments, the set of moral and religious laws given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai.
Any fundamental set of rules or principles, especially a code of ethics or conduct, often presented as ten items.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a literary and theological term referring directly to the Biblical commandments. In extended use, it implies a solemn, authoritative, and foundational set of rules.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Both variants use the term in the same contexts.
Connotations
In both regions, the term carries strong religious, historical, and formal connotations.
Frequency
Very low frequency in everyday language in both the UK and US. Its usage is largely confined to religious, historical, or literary discussions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
refer to the decaloguebase something on the decaloguesummarised in the decalogueVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific; the word itself is often used metaphorically (e.g., 'a secular decalogue').”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Almost never used. Might appear metaphorically in very formal corporate ethics statements.
Academic
Used in theology, religious studies, history, and occasionally in ethics or philosophy.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would be understood only with context by educated speakers.
Technical
Specific to theological and biblical scholarship.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The decalogue tablets are a powerful symbol.
- He presented a decalogue-style list of principles.
American English
- The decalogue tradition is central to the faith.
- They proposed a decalogue approach to team ethics.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The ten rules in the Bible are called the Decalogue.
- The professor explained how the Decalogue forms the ethical foundation of Judeo-Christian tradition.
- In his essay, the author proposed a modern decalogue for environmental stewardship, mirroring the gravity of the original.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: DECA (meaning ten, as in decade) + LOGUE (meaning words or speech, as in dialogue). It's the 'ten words' or commandments.
Conceptual Metaphor
RULES ARE COMMANDMENTS; MORALITY IS A WRITTEN CODE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'декалог' (a direct borrowing, understood in religious contexts). The more common Russian equivalent is 'десять заповедей'. Avoid associating it with 'декалькомания' (decalcomania) which is unrelated.
Common Mistakes
- Mispronouncing as /diːkəlɒɡ/.
- Misspelling as 'decalog'.
- Using it to refer to any list of rules, which is a stylistic overreach in most contexts.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'decalogue' MOST appropriately used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a rare, formal word used primarily in religious, historical, or literary contexts. Most people say 'the Ten Commandments'.
Technically yes, but this is a metaphorical or extended use. It carries a very formal and weighty connotation, implying the rules are foundational and solemn, like the original Ten Commandments.
There is no difference in referential meaning. 'Decalogue' is the formal, often academic term derived from Greek (deka = ten, logos = word), while 'Ten Commandments' is the everyday English phrase.
The stress is on the first syllable: DEK-uh-log. In British English, the last syllable rhymes with 'log'. In American English, it often sounds like 'lawg' (/lɔːɡ/).