different between prescribe vs rescribe

English

Alternative forms

• præscribe (archaic)

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin praescribere, from prae (“before”) and scribere (“to write”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /p???sk?a?b/, /p???sk?a?b/
• (distinguished from proscribe) IPA^(key): /?p?i??sk?a?b/
• Rhymes: -a?b
• Homophone: proscribe (in some dialects)

Verb

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

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

2. To specify by writing as a required procedure or ritual; to lay down authoritatively as a guide, direction, or rule of action.
   • 1665, John Dryden, The Indian Emperour

     Let streams prescribe their fountains where to run.

Related terms

Derived terms

• deprescribe
• prescriber

Antonyms

• proscribe

Translations

Spanish

Verb

prescribe

1. Informal second-person singular (tú) affirmative imperative form of prescribir.
2. Formal second-person singular (usted) present indicative form of prescribir.
3. Third-person singular (él, ella, also used with usted^?) present indicative form of prescribir.

English

Etymology

Latin rescribere.

Verb

rescribe (third-person singular simple present rescribes, present participle rescribing, simple past and past participle rescribed)

1. (obsolete) To write back; to write in reply.
   • 1726, John Ayliffe, Parergon Juris Canonici Anglicani

     Whenever a Prince on his being consulted by any one rescribes or writes back in this manner, he seems to dispense with that act.

2. (obsolete, transitive) To write out again; to rewrite.

References

rescribe in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

Latin

Verb

rescr?be

1. second-person singular present active imperative of rescr?b?