Etymologically
Log in

praescriptum

History Permalink

Etymology and origin of the Latin word praescriptum

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
96–55 BC, Lucretius
Ultimate origin
Latin (scrībō)

Forms

praescriptum n (genitive praescriptī); second declension[1]

Etymology

It is the neuter perfect passive participle of praescrībō (“to write before; prescribe”) used as a noun.[2][3][1] That verb is a compound of prae- (“before”) and scrībō (“to write”).[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Lucretius asks the Muse to show him the course to the white line of the final goal;[2][3] Köbler dates it from Cicero.[4]

Semantic evolution

Its first sense is a line drawn to mark a boundary or a course: Horace has the Geloni riding within set bounds on narrow plains,[2][3] and Seneca uses it figuratively of not keeping to the line.[2] It is also the letters traced for children to copy when learning to write: Seneca says boys learn by a pattern, and Quintilian speaks of not going outside the pattern.[2][3] Above all it is a precept, rule or ordinance: Cicero says all things are done by the command and prescription of the laws,[2][3] Caesar has one general acting by orders and another freely,[2] and Livy has elections held as the consul prescribed.[2] Ultrā praescriptum is against the rule, as in Suetonius.[3] Stelten gives "precept, order, copy, task, lesson" for Church Latin.[5]

Timeline

  • 96–55 BC – Lucretius of the line of the goal.[2][3]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero of the prescriptions of the laws.[2][3][4]
  • c. 50 BC – Caesar of acting by orders.[2][3]
  • 65–8 BC – Horace of set bounds.[2]
  • 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca of a writing pattern for children.[2][3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A line drawn to mark a boundary or course; set bounds.[2][3][1]
  2. A pattern of letters for children to copy; a task, lesson.[2][3][5]
  3. A precept, rule, ordinance;[2][3][1] ad praescrīptum, as ordered;[2][3][1] ultrā praescrīptum, against the rule.[2][3][1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
Cite this entry

“Praescriptum.” Etymologically, 20 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/praescriptum. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·