proscribe

English

Etymology

From Middle English proscriben, from Latin prōscrībō (“to proclaim, forbid, banish”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pɹəˈskɹaɪb/
• (distinguished from prescribe):
  • (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈpɹəʊˌskɹaɪb/

    • Audio (Southern England)

      (file)

  • (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈpɹoʊˌskɹaɪb/
• Rhymes: -aɪb
• Homophone: prescribe (in some dialects)

Verb

proscribe (third-person singular simple present proscribes, present participle proscribing, simple past and past participle proscribed)

1. (transitive) To forbid or prohibit.

   The law proscribes driving a car while intoxicated.

2. (transitive) To denounce.

   Antonym: recommend

   The word ‘ain’t’ is proscribed by many authorities.

   • 1841 February–November, Charles Dickens, “Barnaby Rudge”, in Master Humphrey’s Clock, volume III, London: Chapman & Hall, , →OCLC, chapter 13, page 1:

     If Joseph Willet, the denounced and proscribed of 'prentices, had happened to be at home when his father's courtly guest presented himself before the Maypole door— [...] he would have contrived, by hook or crook, to dive to the very bottom of Mr. Chester's mystery, and to come at his purpose with as much certainty as though he had been his confidential adviser.

3. (transitive) To banish or exclude.

   Many Roman citizens were proscribed for taking part in rebellions.

Antonyms

• prescribe

Derived terms

• proscriber

Related terms

• proscription
• proscriptive
• proscriptivist

Translations

Latin

Verb

prōscrībe

1. second-person singular present active imperative of prōscrībō

Spanish

Verb

proscribe

1. inflection of proscribir:
   1. third-person singular present indicative
   2. second-person singular imperative