pro ‧ scribe /prəʊˈskraɪb $ proʊ-/ BrE AmE verb [transitive]
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: proscribere , from scribere 'to write' ]
formal to officially say that something is not allowed to exist or be done SYN forbid , prohibit :
The Act proscribes discrimination on the grounds of race.
—proscription /-ˈskrɪpʃ ə n/ noun [uncountable and countable]
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THESAURUS
▪ forbid to tell someone in a very strong way that they must not do something or that something is not allowed:
His doctor had strictly forbidden him to drink alcohol.
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It is forbidden to say such things.
▪ not allow to say that someone must not do or have something, and stop them doing or having it:
The company does not allow smoking inside the building.
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Mobile phones are not allowed in school.
▪ not let [not in passive] to not allow someone to do something. Not let is more informal than not allow :
My parents won’t let me stay out later than 11 o'clock.
▪ not permit [usually passive] if something is not permitted, a rule or law says that you must not do it. Not permit is more formal than not allow :
Candidates are not permitted to use dictionaries in this examination.
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Parking is not permitted here after 8 am.
▪ ban to say officially that people must not do or have something:
Parliament decided to ban fox-hunting.
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The book was banned in many countries.
▪ prohibit /prəˈhɪbət, prəˈhɪbɪt $ proʊ-/ to say officially that an action is illegal and make a law or rule about this:
Acts of vandalism are prohibited.
▪ bar [usually passive] to not allow someone to enter a place or do something, especially by preventing it officially:
Foreign journalists were barred from entering the country.
▪ proscribe formal to say officially that people are not allowed to do something:
The law proscribes discrimination in the workplace.