prescribe

verb

(medicine) To order (a drug or medical device) for use by a particular patient (under licensed authority).

To specify by writing as a required procedure or ritual; to lay down authoritatively as a guide, direction, or rule of action.

(law) To develop or assert a right; to make a claim (by prescription).

(law) To become invalidated or unenforceable by prescription, to lapse

Roots

praepre- · Latin · before, in front scribo-scrib · Latin · write

Synonyms for prescribe

dictatev administerv ordern imposev enactv remedyn regulatev authorizev recommendv

Synonyms & related words for prescribe

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of prescribe — including dictate, administer, order, impose, enact, remedy. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to prescribe

Explore words related to prescribe — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include overprescribe, prescriber, prescriptivist, prescription, prescript, prescriptible, overmedicate, nonprescription. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for prescribe

Common synonyms for prescribe include dictate, administer, order, impose, enact, remedy, regulate, authorize — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does prescribe come from?

The word prescribe breaks down into 2 roots of Latin origin: pre-, from Latin prae (“before, in front”); and -scrib, from Latin scribo (“write”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.