prescribir

to prescribe

verb preh-skree-BEER Rare

Origin: From Latin 'praescribere' (to write before, to order), from 'prae-' + 'scribere' (to write).

Also means

to expire (legally)

Usage Note

Prescribir has two distinct senses: a doctor prescribe a medication (to prescribe), and a legal right or crime prescribe when a statute of limitations runs out (to lapse/expire). This legal sense — 'el delito ha prescrito' (the crime has prescribed, i.e. the statute of limitations has run out) — is a false friend for English speakers who know only 'prescribe'. The past participle is the irregular prescrito.

Examples

"El médico prescribió antibióticos durante diez días."

Natural Translation

The doctor prescribed antibiotics for ten days.

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