Prescriptive — Pre*scrip tive, a. [L. praescriptivus of a demurrer or legal exception.] 1. (Law) Consisting in, or acquired by, immemorial or long continued use and enjoyment; as, a prescriptive right of title; pleading the continuance and authority of long… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
prescriptive — (adj.) 1748, from L.L. praescriptivus, from praescriptum, pp. of praescribere (see PRESCRIPTION (Cf. prescription)) … Etymology dictionary
prescriptive — The term is fairly recent (1930s) with reference to language, and denotes a concept of grammar as laying down (or ‘prescribing’) rules rather than observing and describing the language in use (this latter concept being called descriptive) … Modern English usage
prescriptive — ► ADJECTIVE 1) relating to the imposition of a rule or method. 2) (of a right, title, etc.) legally established by long usage. DERIVATIVES prescriptivism noun prescriptivist noun & adjective. ORIGIN Latin praescriptivus relating to a legal… … English terms dictionary
prescriptive — [prē skrip′tiv, priskrip′tiv] adj. [LL praescriptivus] 1. that prescribes 2. based on legal prescription 3. prescribed by custom or long use prescriptively adv … English World dictionary
prescriptive — pre|scrip|tive [prıˈskrıptıv] adj 1.) saying how something should or must be done, or what should be done ▪ prescriptive teaching methods 2.) stating how a language should be used, rather than describing how it is used ≠ ↑descriptive ▪… … Dictionary of contemporary English
prescriptive — [[t]prɪskrɪ̱ptɪv[/t]] ADJ GRADED A prescriptive approach to something involves telling people what they should do, rather than simply giving suggestions or describing what is done. [FORMAL] ...prescriptive attitudes to language on the part of… … English dictionary
prescriptive — adjective 1 stating or ordering how something should be done or what someone should do: prescriptive teaching methods 2 technical stating how a language should be used, rather than describing how it is used: prescriptive grammar prescriptively… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
prescriptive — adjective Date: 1748 1. serving to prescribe < prescriptive rules of usage > 2. acquired by, founded on, or determined by prescription or by long standing custom • prescriptively adverb … New Collegiate Dictionary
prescriptive — prescriptively, adv. prescriptiveness, n. /pri skrip tiv/, adj. 1. that prescribes; giving directions or injunctions: a prescriptive letter from an anxious father. 2. depending on or arising from effective legal prescription, as a right or title… … Universalium
