praescriptio Latin · revision 34266

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=81–43 BC, Cicero|origins=la scrībō}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''praescrīptiō''' ''f'' (genitive praescrīptiōnis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|praescrībō|-tiō|t1=to write before, prescribe]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(TLL) That verb is a compound of [[m|la|prae-|t=before]] and [[m|la|scrībō|t=to write]], which de Vaan derives from [[itc-pro|*skreife/o-|t=to carve]] and [[ine-pro|*skreibʰ-|t=to carve]]; cognate with [[osc|scriftas|t=written]] and [[xum|screhto|t=written]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler and the TLL record it first in Cicero,^(Köbler 2010)^(TLL) who speaks of the ''index'' and ''praescriptio'' of a law, its title and preamble.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From a heading written in front, a title or preamble, it became a legal term: a clause prefixed to the formula of a lawsuit to limit its scope, so called, Gaius explains, because it is written before the formula.^(OLD 2012) Quintilian and the jurists use it of an objection raised by the defendant, a plea in bar, and Papinian speaks of the ''praescriptio longae possessionis'', the plea of long possession.^(OLD 2012) Caesar uses it of a cover or pretext, ''ut honesta praescriptione rem turpissimam tegerent''.^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010) Cicero, Vitruvius, Seneca and Tacitus use it of a rule, direction or limitation.^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010) In Ecclesiastical Latin it is prescription, the acquiring of ownership by possession for the time the law lays down,^(Stelten 1995) and medieval writers in Britain use it of a prescribed form of words, a decree, a medical prescription and a title acquired by long use.^(DMLBS) English borrowed it as [[m|en|prescription]] in the late 14th century, first as a legal term.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the preamble of a law and of a rule.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of a pretext.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 140–180 AD – Gaius explains the legal ''praescriptiones''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * before 212 AD – Papinian has ''praescriptio longae possessionis''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – English borrows it as [[m|en|prescription]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A written [[m|en|heading]], title, [[m|en|preamble]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010)

+ # ''(law)'' A preliminary clause defining the scope of a lawsuit; an objection raised by the defendant, a [[m|en|demurrer]], especially on grounds of lapse of time.^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010)

+ # A [[m|en|pretext]], cover, excuse.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010)

+ # A [[m|en|precept]], rule, direction; a limitation.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin, Medieval Latin)'' [[m|en|prescription|alt=Prescription]], title acquired by long possession; a medical prescription.^(Stelten 1995)^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[praescrībō]]

+ * [[praescrīptum]]

+ * [[en|prescription]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}