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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Prescribe

Pre-scribe', v. t.

verbtransitive

[imp. & p. p. PRESCRIBED; p. pr. & vb. n. PRESCRIBING.] [Lat. præscribere, from præ, before, and scribere, to write; It. prescrivere, Sp. prescribir, Pg. prescrever, Pr. prescrire, Fr. prescrire, O. Fr. prescriber.

Sense 1. To lay down authoritatively for direction; to give as a guide, direction, or rule of action; to impose as a peremptory order; to direct.

Prescribe not us our duties. Shak.

Let streams prescribe their fountains where to run. Dryden.

Sense 2. (Med.) To direct as a remedy to be used by or for a patient.

Synonyms—To appoint; order; command; dictate; ordain; institute; establish.

Pre-scribe′, v. i.

verbintransitive

v. i. 1. To give law; to exercise arbitrary influence; to dictate; to give directions. A forwardness to prescribe to the opinions of others. Locke.

  1. (Med.) To write or give medical directions; to indicate remedies; as, to prescribe for a patient in a fever.
  2. To influence by long use. [Obs.] Browne.
  3. (Law.) To claim by prescription; to claim a title to a thing on the ground of immemorial use and enjoyment; — with for. Greenleaf. N. Am. Cyc.