Word: prescribed (verb)

Associations

The word "prescribed" means to officially recommend or order something, often in a medical context. It is commonly used when talking about medications or treatments.

• Example 1: "The doctor prescribed antibiotics for my infection." (Here, the doctor officially recommends a specific medicine.)
• Example 2: "She was prescribed physical therapy after her surgery." (This shows an official recommendation for a treatment plan.)
• Example 3: "The diet was prescribed by a nutritionist to help manage her health." (In this case, it refers to a recommended eating plan.)

A well-known synonym for "prescribed" is "recommended." The main difference is that "prescribed" often has a formal or official tone, usually related to medicine or treatments, while "recommended" can be used in more casual contexts.

Substitution

Other words or phrases that can be used instead of "prescribed" include:

• "ordered" - This can imply a more formal instruction, often used in medical or legal contexts.
• "suggested" - This is less formal and implies a recommendation rather than an official order.
• "advised" - This can also suggest a recommendation but might not carry the same weight as "prescribed."

Deconstruction

The root of "prescribed" is "scribe," which comes from the Latin "scribere," meaning "to write." The prefix "pre-" means "before." Together, "prescribed" suggests writing down instructions or recommendations beforehand.

Historically, the term has been used in contexts where a doctor or authority figure writes down what should be done for a patient or situation.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you were prescribed something, like medicine or a plan? How did that make you feel?
• In what other contexts can you see the word "prescribed" being used outside of medicine?
• How do you feel when you receive a recommendation versus when something is prescribed to you?