Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1400-1500
Language: Latin
Origin: praescribere 'to write at the beginning, order'

prescribe

 verb
     
Related topics: Drugs, Medicines, Illness and Disability, Nurses, Doctors, etc
pre‧scribe [transitive]
1MD to say what medicine or treatment a sick person should have [↪ prescription]
prescribe somebody something
If these don't work I may have to prescribe you something stronger.
prescribe something for something
the drugs prescribed for his stomach pains
2 formal to state officially what should be done in a particular situation:
What punishment does the law prescribe for this crime?
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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