praescriptum Latin · revision 33106

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=96–55 BC, Lucretius|origins=la scrībō}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''praescriptum''' ''n'' (genitive praescriptī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the neuter perfect passive participle of [[m|la|praescrībō|t=to write before; prescribe]] used as a noun.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) That verb is a compound of [[m|la|prae-|t=before]] and [[m|la|scrībō|t=to write]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Lucretius asks the Muse to show him the course to the white line of the final goal;^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Köbler dates it from Cicero.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==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,^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) and Seneca uses it figuratively of not keeping to the line.^(OLD 2012) 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.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Above all it is a precept, rule or ordinance: Cicero says all things are done by the command and prescription of the laws,^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Caesar has one general acting by orders and another freely,^(OLD 2012) and Livy has elections held as the consul prescribed.^(OLD 2012) ''Ultrā praescriptum'' is against the rule, as in Suetonius.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Stelten gives "precept, order, copy, task, lesson" for Church Latin.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius of the line of the goal.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of the prescriptions of the laws.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar of acting by orders.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ * 65–8 BC – Horace of set bounds.^(OLD 2012)

+ * 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca of a writing pattern for children.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A line drawn to mark a [[m|en|boundary]] or course; set bounds.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A pattern of letters for children to copy; a task, lesson.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # A [[m|en|precept]], rule, [[m|en|ordinance]];^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) ''ad praescrīptum'', as ordered;^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) ''ultrā praescrīptum'', against the rule.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[praescrībō]]

+ * [[praescrīptiō]]

+ * [[scrībō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}