prescribe

• præscribe (archaic)

Borrowed from Latin praescribere, from prae (“before”) and scribere (“to write”).

• IPA^(key): /pɹɪˈskɹaɪb/
• (distinguished from proscribe) IPA^(key): /ˈpɹiːˌskɹaɪb/
• Rhymes: -aɪb
• Homophone: proscribe (in some dialects)

prescribe (third-person singular simple present prescribes, present participle prescribing, simple past and past participle prescribed)

1. To order (a drug or medical device) for use by a particular patient (under licensed authority).

   The doctor prescribed aspirin.

2. To specify as a required procedure or ritual; to lay down authoritatively as a guide, direction, or rule of action.

   The property meets the criteria prescribed by the regulations.

   • William Shakespeare

     Prescribe not us our duties.

   • John Dryden

     Let streams prescribe their fountains where to run.

• deprescribe
• prescriber

• proscribe

prescribe

1. Informal second-person singular (tú) affirmative imperative form of prescribir.
2. Formal second-person singular (usted) present indicative form of prescribir.
3. Third-person singular (él, ella, also used with usted^?) present indicative form of prescribir.