proscribe

English

Etymology

From Middle English proscriben, from Latin prōscrībō (to proclaim, forbid, banish).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /pɹəˈskɹaɪb/
  • (distinguished from prescribe):
    • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈpɹəʊˌskɹaɪb/
    • (US) IPA(key): /ˈpɹoʊˌskɹaɪb/
  • Rhymes: -aɪb
  • Homophone: prescribe (in some dialects)

Verb

proscribe (third-person singular simple present proscribes, present participle proscribing, simple past and past participle proscribed)

  1. (transitive) To forbid or prohibit.
    The law proscribes driving a car while intoxicated.
  2. (transitive) To denounce.
    The word "ain't" is proscribed by many authorities.
  3. (transitive) To banish or exclude.
    Many Roman citizens were proscribed for taking part in rebellions.

(Can we add an example for this sense?)

Usage notes

  • Avoid the erroneous construction “proscribe against”; substitute “proscribe” alone or the phrase “prescribe against”.

Antonyms

Derived terms

Translations

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout#Translations.

Latin

Verb

prōscrībe

  1. second-person singular present active imperative of prōscrībō

Spanish

Verb

proscribe

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