† preˈscrive, v. Sc. Obs.
Also 6 præ-, 5 -scrife.
[ad. F. prescriv-, full stem of prescrire (15th c. in Godefroy Compl.), ad. L. præscrībĕre to prescribe, after écrire:—scrībĕre. Cf. descrive.]
1. trans. = prescribe v. 2.
| 1563 Winȝet Four Scoir Thre Quest. lxxxi. Wks. (S.T.S.) I. 129 Of prayar at præscrivit tymes in the Kirk. 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. ix. 236, I prescriue him na law. 1597 Skene De Verb. Sign. s.v. Annuel, Prescrived and appoynted be the law of this realm. 1640–1 Kirkcudbr. War-Comm. Min. Bk. (1855) 97 At the expyering of everie ane of the dyets prescryvit be thir instructiones. |
b. = prescribe v. 3.
| 1861 Davidson Poems 77 (E.D.D.) My grannie may prescrive an herb for me. |
2. (?) intr. To become valid by prescription.
| 1456 Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 80 Thair possessioun..is of sa lang tyme bygane prescrivit and passit prescripcioun. |
3. intr. Of a right or claim: To cease to be valid, to lapse by prescription of time; = prescribe v. 7; also said of the prescribed period: To elapse, run out.
| 1456 Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 262 Efter xxxti ȝeris he aw nouthir till ansuer bataill na othir process, for the tyme prescryvis of lawe. 1469 Sc. Acts Jas. III (1814) II. 95/1 Þe obligatione..sall prescrife & be of nain avail þe said fourtj ȝeris beand Ronnyng & vnpersewit be þe law. 1474 Ibid. 107/1 In tyme to cum all obligacionis maid or to be maide þ{supt} beis no{supt} folowyt w in xl ȝeris sall prescrive and be of na awaill. 1540 in Balfour's Practicks (1754) 147 Comprysit landis expiris and prescryvis sevin ȝeiris being bypast; bot landis annalȝeit under reversioun prescryvis nevir. 1678 Sir G. Mackenzie Crim. Laws Scot. i. vi. §22 (1699) 29 If these pursuits should not prescrive with us in five years, as they do by the common Law. |
¶ 4. trans. To condemn, prohibit, proscribe. rare—1.
[Due to med.L. confusion of præ- and pro-.]
| 1562 A. Scott Poems (S.T.S.) i. 58 Bot wyte the wickit pastouris wald no{supt} mend Thair vitious leving all þ⊇ warld prescryvis. |