PRESCRI'BE, v.t. [L. proescribo, to write before.] 1. In medicine, to direct, as a remedy to be used or applied to a diseased patient. Be not offended with the physician who prescribes harsh remedies.2. To set or lay down authoritatively for direction; to give as a rule of conduct; as, to prescribe laws or rules. There's joy, when to wild will you laws prescribe.3. To direct. Let streams prescribe their fountains where to run.PRESCRI'BE, v.i. To write or give medical directions; to direct what remedies are to be used; as, to prescribe for a patient in a fever. 1. To give law; to influence arbitrarily. A forwardness to prescribe to the opinions of others.2. In law, to claim by prescription; to claim a title to a thing by immemorial use and enjoyment; with for. A man may be allowed to prescribe for a right of way, a common or the like; a man cannot prescribe for a castle; he can prescribe only for incorporeal hereditaments.3. To influence by long use.
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