prescriptive

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)

  1. A handbook dictating the rules for proper behavior is an example of something that would be described as a prescriptive handbook.
  2. 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.

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See prescriptive in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

  1. that prescribes
  2. based on legal prescription
  3. prescribed by custom or long use

Origin: LL praescriptivus

Related Forms:

See prescriptive in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective
  1. Sanctioned or authorized by long-standing custom or usage.
  2. Making or giving injunctions, directions, laws, or rules.
  3. Law Acquired by or based on uninterrupted possession.
  4. 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.

Related Forms:

  • pre·scripˈtive·ly adverb
  • pre·scripˈtive·ness noun

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