Dictionary

The act of prescribing a rule, law, etc..

Example: "Jurisdiction to prescribe" is a state's authority to make its laws applicable to certain persons or activities. -- Richard G. Alexander, Iran and Libya Sanctions Act of 1996: Congress exceeds its jurisdiction to prescribe law. Washington and Lee Law Review, 1997.

Also called extinctive prescription or liberative prescription. A time period within which a right must be exercised, otherwise it will be extinguished.

Also called acquisitive prescription. A time period after which a person who has, in the role of an owner, uninterruptedly, peacefully, and publicly possessed another's property acquires the property. The described process is known as acquisition by prescription and adverse possession.

A written order, as by a physician or nurse practitioner, for the administration of a medicine or other intervention. See also scrip.

Example: The surgeon wrote a prescription for a pain killer and physical therapy.

(of a drug, etc.) only available with a physician or nurse practitioner's written prescription

Example: Many powerful pain killers are prescription drugs in the U.S.