prescription

[pri-skrip-shuhn]

noun

1. Medicine/Medical.

   1. a direction, usually written, by the physician to the pharmacist for the preparation and use of a medicine or remedy.

   2. the medicine prescribed.

      Take this prescription three times a day.

2. an act of prescribing.

3. that which is prescribed.

4. Law.

   1. Also called positive prescription. a long or immemorial use of some right with respect to a thing so as to give a right to continue such use.

   2. Also called positive prescription. the process of acquiring rights by uninterrupted assertion of the right over a long period of time.

   3. Also called negative prescription. the loss of rights to legal remedy due to the limitation of time within which an action can be taken.

adjective

1. (of drugs) sold only upon medical prescription; ethical.

prescription

/ prɪˈskrɪpʃən /

noun

1. 1. written instructions from a physician, dentist, etc, to a pharmacist stating the form, dosage strength, etc, of a drug to be issued to a specific patient

   2. the drug or remedy prescribed

2. (modifier) (of drugs) available legally only with a doctor's prescription

3. 1. written instructions from an optician specifying the lenses needed to correct defects of vision

   2. ( as modifier )

      prescription glasses

4. the act of prescribing

5. something that is prescribed

6. a long established custom or a claim based on one

7. law

   1. the uninterrupted possession of property over a stated period of time, after which a right or title is acquired ( positive prescription )

   2. the barring of adverse claims to property, etc, after a specified period of time has elapsed, allowing the possessor to acquire title ( negative prescription )

   3. the right or title acquired in either of these ways

Word History and Origins

Origin of prescription¹

1250–1300; Middle English < Medieval Latin praescrīptiōn- (stem of praescrīptiō ) legal possession (of property), law, order, literally, a writing before, hence, a heading on a document. See prescript, -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of prescription¹

C14: from legal Latin praescriptiō an order, prescription; see _prescribe

Example Sentences

Some sweeteners in her budget included freezes on rail fares and prescription charges, as well as cuts to high energy bills.

Read more on Barron's

I also learned that despite the new $2,100 cap on prescription drugs, my estimated total drug and premium cost could be as high as $5,585.40 per year.

Read more on MarketWatch

Among them are nurse practitioners, who are able to diagnose illnesses and write prescriptions.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But his views on marriage and family are so rigid that if people followed his prescriptions, most women would be unable to hold jobs outside of the home.

Read more on Salon

Researchers are studying whether Covid-19 infections might accelerate autoimmunity, and whether chronic stress, certain prescription drugs or long-term exposure to “forever chemicals” in water and packaging might contribute.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• drug 
• instruction 
• recipe 
• remedy