Kenneth G. Wilson (1923–). The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. 1993.
prescribe, proscribe (vv.)
Prescribe means “to set down a rule,” “to dictate, direct, or order,” and, in a specialized medical sense, “to order a treatment or medicine for a patient,” as in The doctor prescribed aspirin and rest. Proscribe means “to banish,” “to sentence to death,” “to outlaw,” and, in its generalized sense, “to forbid a behavior,” as in The judge firmly proscribed his driving a car.
