praescribo Latin · revision 31631

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=190–159 BC, Terence|origins=la scrībō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [prae̯sˈkriː.boː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [presˈkriː.bo]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''praescrībō''' (present infinitive praescrībere, perfect active praescrīpsī, supine praescrīptum); third conjugation^(Wiktionary)

+ The surveyor Agennius writes the participle ''praescribtus''.^(OLD 2012) Old manuscripts also have ''pre-''.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|prae-|scrībō|t2=to write]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) De Vaan traces ⟨scrībō⟩ to [[itc-pro|*skreifō|alt=*skreif-e/o-|t=to carve]] and [[ine-pro|*skreybʰ-|alt=*skreibʰ-e/o-|t=to carve]], cognate with [[osc|scriftas|t=written]], [[xum|screhto|t=written]] and [[lv|skrīpât|t=to scratch, scribble]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's earliest example is Terence's ''Andria'': “you have set a limit to these things”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Literally it is “to write at the head”, as a name at the top of a letter (Caesar says Pompey never did so with his new title) or on a standard, and in law to enter an objection at the head of a formula.^(OLD 2012) It is also to describe earlier in a work, to give as a pretext, and to trace in outline, as Pliny's furrows marked out for planting.^(OLD 2012) Above all it means to lay down, prescribe, appoint, as in Terence, and to set a pattern to follow: Cicero hoped his speech would give the young a lesson worth remembering.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “order, prescribe”.^(Stelten 1995) English [[m|en|prescribe]] (mid-15th century) first meant “to write down as a rule”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence of setting a limit.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar of a title at the head of letters.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of setting a pattern.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * mid-15th century – English [[m|en|prescribe]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To write at the head, [[m|en|prefix]]; in law, to enter an objection at the head of a formula.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To describe earlier; to give as a pretext.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To trace in outline; to set as a pattern, teach.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To lay down, [[m|en|prescribe]], [[m|en|appoint]], order.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[praescrīptiō]]

+ * [[praescriptiuus]]

+ * [[praescriptum]]

+ * [[praescriptus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[scrībō]]

+ * [[en|prescribe]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}