prescribe
- to lay down, in writing or otherwise, as a rule or a course of action to be followed; appoint, ordain, or enjoin.
- Medicine/Medical. to designate or order the use of (a medicine, remedy, treatment, etc.).
- to lay down rules; direct; dictate.
- Medicine/Medical. to designate remedies, treatment, etc., to be used.
- Law. to claim a right or title by virtue of long use and enjoyment; make a prescriptive claim. (usually followed by for or to).
Origin of prescribe
Synonyms for prescribe
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comRelated Words for prescribe
require, impose, determine, dictate, establish, specify, define, appoint, decree, set, fix, direct, rule, guide, settle, command, choose, decide, enjoin, ordainExamples from the Web for prescribe
Contemporary Examples of prescribe
For people with SAD, or a bad case of the winter blues, doctors might prescribe a certain amount of light exposure.
If there were a pill with such poor efficacy, it might be considered malpractice to prescribe it.
Though I prescribe hardly any narcotic pain medications, most ADHD medications are also Schedule II.
I can open a practice and prescribe medications whether or not I have it.
Your doctor can help pinpoint any potential roadblocks and, in some cases, might prescribe medication to help you ovulate.
Historical Examples of prescribe
You are not placed near them for that, but only to receive your fees and to prescribe remedies.
The Imaginary InvalidMolire
Does it, however, become us to prescribe rules to Omniscience?
Female Scripture Biographies, Vol. IFrancis Augustus Cox
Are you, who refuse ever body's advice, to prescribe a husband to your sister?
Clarissa, Volume 2 (of 9)Samuel Richardson
For the present he can but prescribe a purgative and a massage of the arm and spine.
The Book of KhalidAmeen Rihani
I will do as you prescribe, said Aristophanes, and now get on.
SymposiumPlato
prescribe
- to lay down as a rule or directive
- law to claim or acquire (a right, title, etc) by prescription
- law to make or become invalid or unenforceable by lapse of time
- med to recommend or order the use of (a drug or other remedy)
Word Origin for prescribe
Word Origin and History for prescribe
"to write down as a direction," mid-15c., from Latin praescribere "write beforehand" (see prescription). Related: Prescribed; prescribing. Medical sense is from 1580s, probably a back formation from prescription.
prescribe
(prĭ-skrīb′)- To give directions, either orally or in writing, for the preparation and administration of a remedy to be used in the treatment of a disease.