different between prescriptivist vs prescribe

English

Etymology

prescriptive +? -ist

Noun

prescriptivist (plural prescriptivists)

1. Someone who lays down rules regarding language usage, or who believes that traditional norms of language usage should be upheld.

Synonyms

• prescriptionist

Antonyms

• descriptionist
• descriptivist

Related terms

• prescribe
• prescriptivism
• prescriptivistic

See also

• grammarian

Adjective

prescriptivist (comparative more prescriptivist, superlative most prescriptivist)

1. Having a tendency to prescribe.

Synonyms

• prescriptionist
• prescriptionistic
• prescriptivistic

Antonyms

• descriptionist
• descriptionistic
• descriptivist
• descriptivistic

Related terms

• prescribe
• prescriptivism
• prescriptivistic

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.