prēˈskripshən, prə̇ˈ- noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English prescripcion, from Middle French prescription, from Late Latin praescription-, praescriptio prescription (sense 2a), from Latin, prefatory writing, order, rule, from praescriptus (past participle of praescribere to write at the beginning, order, direct, prescribe) + -ion-, -io -ion; in several senses directly from Latin praescription-, praescriptio
1.
a.
(1) : the establishment of a claim of title to something under common law originally by virtue of immemorial use and enjoyment or usually in modern times by use and enjoyment for a period fixed by statute (as 20 years)
a municipal corporation can be brought into existence by prescription — J.E.Pate
gaining a right by prescription — O.W.Holmes †1935
(2) : the acquisition under common law of incorporeal interests in land (as easements) by such a process as distinguished from acquisition of title by adverse possession
prescription is based upon the legal fiction that possession was originally acquired under a grant
b. : the right or title acquired under common law by possession had during the time and in the manner fixed by law
2.
a. : the operation of the Roman law whereby rights might be acquired or extinguished by limitation of the time within which the owner might have his remedy under the praetorian law — distinguished from usucapion
b. : the operation of the civil law whereby rights might be established by long exercise of their corresponding powers or extinguished by prolonged failure to exercise such powers : a civil law process in which the usucapion and prescription of Roman law are merged
3. : the action of prescribing : the process of making claim to something (as a title) by long use and enjoyment
4. : the action of prescribing : the process of laying down authoritative rules or directions
prescription of the duty of an individual towards others — R.M.MacIver
the issue of … prescription or free choice in education — Sidney Hook
5.
a.
(1) : a written direction for the preparation, compounding, and administration of a medicine
(2) : a prescribed remedy
b. : a written formula for the grinding of corrective lenses for eyeglasses
c. : a written direction for the application of physical therapy measures (as directed exercise or electrotherapy) in cases of injury or disability
d. : something resembling or held to resemble such a medical direction
step-by-step prescriptions for improving executive performance — Dun's Review
a useful prescription for depression unemployment — L.G.Reynolds
a prescription of spiritual aspirin doled out to a nervous reader — Ben Bradford
6.
a. : custom of ancient or long continued character usually having an authoritative status
morals … were by prescription singularly unconstrained — E.J.Simmons
they had no religious reverence for prescription — T.B.Macaulay
b. : claim founded upon ancient custom or long continued use
7. obsolete : the action of laying down boundaries, limits, or restrictions : circumscription , limitation
8. : something prescribed ; specifically : prescript 1
peremptory prescriptions as to the only correct use of language — E.W.Hall
one year of English is a practically universal prescription — H.N.Fairchild
9. : a plea or clause placed at the beginning of the formula in an action under Roman law and limiting the scope of the claim or the remedy (as to a certain time)