prescriptive

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English

Etymology

From Latin praescriptivus (relating to a legal exception), from praescript- (directed in writing), from the verb praescribere.

Alternative forms

Pronunciation

  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 290: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "UK" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /pɹɪˈskɹɪptɪv/
  • Rhymes: -ɪptɪv
  • Hyphenation: pre‧scrip‧tive

Adjective

prescriptive (comparative more prescriptive, superlative most prescriptive)

  1. Of or pertaining to prescribing or enjoining, especially an action or behavior based on a norm or standard.
    Synonym: normative
    Antonyms: (especially of grammar and usage) descriptive, proscriptive, nonprescriptive
    • 1988, Andrew Radford, Transformational Grammar, Cambridge: University Press, →ISBN, page 8:
      For one thing, spoken language tends to be less subjected to prescriptive
      pressures than written language, and hence is a less artificial medium of com-
      munication (written language is often a kind of 'censored' version of spoken
      language). [...]

Derived terms

Translations