prescribe
/pɹɪˈskɹaɪb/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.39 in modern English
15
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
2
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
verb
To order (a drug or medical device) for use by a particular patient (under licensed authority).
verb
To specify by writing as a required procedure or ritual; to lay down authoritatively as a guide, direction, or rule of action.
verb
To become invalidated or unenforceable by prescription, to lapse
Example Sentences
- "The doctor prescribed aspirin."
- "And most neurologists are in the habit of prescribing antispasticity drugs like tizanidine and baclofen, which are oral and inexpensive, but which cause drowsiness and weaken every muscle in the body, not just the target ones."
- "The property meets the criteria prescribed by the regulations."
- "Prescribe not us our duties."
- "VVhen Parents loves are order'd by a Son, / Let ſtreams preſcribe their fountains vvhere to run."
- "Most probable that one presentation and 40 years possession thereafter, is sufficient to prescribe a right of patronage."
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *per- Proto-Indo-European *preh₂- Proto-Indo-European *-i Proto-Indo-European *préh₂i? Proto-Italic *prai Proto-Italic *prai- Latin prae- Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker-? Proto-Indo-European *(s)kreybʰ- Proto-Indo-European *(s)kréybʰeti Proto-Italic *skreiβō Latin scrībō Latin praescrībōbor. English prescribe Borrowed from Latin praescrībere, from prae- (“before, in front”) and scrībere (“to write”).
Word Breakdown
- Root: *(s)kreybʰ-