PRESCRIBE

order, prescribe, dictate

(verb) issue commands or orders for

prescribe

(verb) (medicine) order the use of (a treatment, medicine, etc.), usually by written prescription; “the doctor prescribed steroids for my ear trouble”

prescribe

(verb) recommend as beneficial; “my mother prescribes a good night’s sleep as the cure for all ills”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Verb

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

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

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

Antonyms

• proscribe

Source: Wiktionary

Pre*scribe", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prescribed; p. pr & vb. n. Prescribing.] Etym: [L. praescribere, praescriptum; prae before + scriebe to write. See Scribe.]

1. To lay down authoritatively as a guide, direction, or rule of action; to impose as a peremptory order; to dictate; to appoint; to direct. Prescribe not us our duties. Shak. Let streams prescribe their fountains where to run. Dryden.

2. (Med.)

Definition: To direct, as a remedy to be used by a patient; as, the doctor prescribed quinine.

Syn.

– To appoint; order; command; dictate; ordain; institute; establish.

Pre*scribe", v. i.

1. To give directions; to dictate. A forwardness to prescribe to their opinions. Locke.

2. To influence by long use [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

3. (Med.)

Definition: To write or to give medical directions; to indicate remedies; as, to prescribe for a patient in a fever.

4. (Law)

Definition: To claim by prescription; to claim a title to a thing on the ground of immemorial use and enjoyment, that is, by a custom having the force of law.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition