prescription English · revision 10572

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1292|origins=fro prescription|origins=la praescriptio}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /prɪˈskrɪp.ʃən/, /prəˈskrɪp.ʃən/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fro|prescription]] (13th century) and directly from Latin praescrīptiō, a writing before, an order or direction,^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) a noun from praescrībere, to write before, ordain,^(Etymonline) from prae-, before, and scrībere, to write (see [[prescribe]] and [[scribe]]).^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In law, the limitation of the time within which a claim can be made: 1292 in the OED;^(OED 1989) a title or right gained through long use or uninterrupted possession, the late 14th century in Etymonline, about 1380 in the OED.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Establishing something by rules is from the 1540s, 1542 in the OED.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The medical sense, a doctor's written directions for a medicine, is recorded by the 1570s, 1579 in the OED,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) the late 16th century in the NODE.^(NODE 1998) Etymonline notes that the word has been confused with [[proscription]] since about 1400.^(Etymonline) As a modifier, of drugs available only on a doctor's order, it is modern.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1292 – a time limit on claims (law).^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1380 – a right by long use.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1542 – prescribing beforehand.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1579 – a doctor's prescription.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A doctor's written instruction for the preparation and use of a [[medicine]], or the medicine itself.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The act of laying down rules, or a rule laid down.^(AHD)

+ # ''(law)'' A right or title gained by long use or possession.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of a drug, available only with a doctor's order.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[nonprescription]]

+ * [[prescription drug]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[prescribe]]

+ * [[scribe]]

+ * [[proscription]]

+ * [[describe]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}