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Webster 1913 Edition


Proscribe

Pro-scribe′

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Proscribed
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Proscribing
.]
[L.
proscribere
,
proscriptum
, to write before, to publish, proscribe;
pro
before +
scribere
to write. See
Scribe
. The sense of this word originated in the Roman practice of writing the names of persons doomed to death, and posting the list in public.]
1.
To doom to destruction; to put out of the protection of law; to outlaw; to exile;
as, Sylla and Marius
proscribed
each other’s adherents
.
Robert Vere, Earl of Oxford, . . . was banished the realm, and
proscribed
.
Spenser.
2.
To denounce and condemn; to interdict; to prohibit;
as, the Puritans
proscribed
theaters
.
The Arian doctrines were
proscribed
and anathematized in the famous Council of Nice.
Waterland.

Webster 1828 Edition


Proscribe

PROSCRI'BE

,
Verb.
T.
[L. proscribo; pro and scribo, to write. The sense of this word originated in the Roman practice of writing the names of persons doomed to death, and posting the list in public.]
1.
To doom to destruction; to put one out of the protection of law,and promise a reward for his head. Sylla and Marius proscribed each other's adherents.
2.
To put out of the protection of the law.
Robert Vere, earl of Oxford, was banished the realm and proscribed.
3.
To denounce and condemn as dangerous and not worthy of reception; to reject utterly.
In the year 325, the Arian doctrines were proscribed and anathematized by the council of Nice.
4.
To censure and condemn as utterly unworthy of reception.
5.
To interdict; as, to proscribe the use of ardent spirits.

Definition 2024


proscribe

proscribe

English

Verb

proscribe (third-person singular simple present proscribes, present participle proscribing, simple past and past participle proscribed)

  1. (transitive) To forbid or prohibit.
    The law proscribes driving a car with a blood alcohol level of over .10%.
  2. (transitive) To denounce.
    The word ain't is proscribed by many authorities.
  3. (transitive) To banish or exclude.
    Many Roman citizens were proscribed for taking part in rebellions.

(Can we add an example for this sense?)

Usage notes

  • Avoid the erroneous construction “proscribe against”; substitute “proscribe” alone or the phrase “prescribe against”.

Antonyms

Related terms

Translations


Latin

Verb

prōscrībe

  1. second-person singular present active imperative of prōscrībō

Spanish

Verb

proscribe

  1. Informal second-person singular () affirmative imperative form of proscribir.
  2. Formal second-person singular (usted) present indicative form of proscribir.
  3. Third-person singular (él, ella, also used with usted?) present indicative form of proscribir.