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prescribe ~ proscribe

[slightly different first vowel sound]

“Prescribe” (verb) is ‘to order or advise the use of something, usually medicine or a course of treatment; to advise or order without authority or by aw the course of action to be taken; suggest or recommend a system or a method as suitable’,

e.g.

Her doctor prescribed complete bed rest for my niece.

In some countries the law prescribes a severe punishment even for minor crimes.

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“Proscribe” (verb) is ‘(by the law) prohibit, stop or condemn something dangerous from being done; to publish or state that somebody is the enemy of the country and so they must be put to death or treated as an outlaw’,

e.g.

The Act in several countries proscribes the system of dowry.   [i.e. to officially say that dowry system is not allowed]

Many Muslim mullahs maintain that birth control is proscribed by Islam.

Compare:

Certain sections of Hindu doctrine are sometimes confusing – they prescribe some marital laws in a chapter, but proscribe the same laws in another chapter.  Maybe it has something to do with individual interpretations!

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