verb

prescribe

to prescribe, to stipulate, to order

The doctor prescribed medicine for the cough.

The doctor prescribed medicine for the cough.

The law prescribes a penalty for this crime.

The law prescribes a penalty for this crime.

((sth.)) ((for sb./sth.)) to prescribe (sth.) for (sb./sth.) The doctor prescribed medicine for the cough.

((sth.)) to prescribe (sth.) The law prescribes a penalty for this crime.

Synonyms: order, direct (for medicine); stipulate, lay down (for rules)

From Latin 'prae-' (before) + 'scribere' (to write). It literally means 'to write before'.

Think of 'pre-script'. A doctor writes a 'script' (a note) for you *before* you go to the pharmacy.

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