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prescriptive

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The definition of prescriptive is the imposition of rules, or something that has become established because it has been going on a long time and has become customary.

(adjective)

A handbook dictating the rules for proper behavior is an example of something that would be described as a prescriptive handbook.
An easement, or a legal right to pass on a driveway, that has become legal simply because the people have passed on the driveway for so long is an example of a prescriptive easement.

See prescriptive in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

that prescribes
based on legal prescription
prescribed by custom or long use

Origin: LL praescriptivus

Related Forms:

prescriptively adverb

See prescriptive in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective

Sanctioned or authorized by long-standing custom or usage.
Making or giving injunctions, directions, laws, or rules.
Law Acquired by or based on uninterrupted possession.
Linguistics Based on or establishing norms or rules indicating how a language should or should not be used rather than describing the ways in which a language is used.

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