We explain what prescribed means, examples and its meaning when it comes from a transitive or intransitive verb.
What does prescribed mean?
With the adjectives prescribed or prescribed, both coming from the verb prescribe, we refer to something that has been prescribed, ordered or determined, or that has expired because its validity time has elapsed.
Both meanings are valid for this adjective, inheritance of the Latin verb I will practice (“write at the beginning” or “inscribe”), but should never be confused with the incorrect forms “prescribed" either "prescribed”. On the other hand, the two common forms in the Spanish of the Río de la Plata region are tolerable: prescript and prescript.
The difference between these two meanings of the verb to prescribe, however, is differentiated by the transitivity or intransitivity of the verb When the verb is transitive, that is, it has a direct object in the sentence, the meaning that corresponds to it is that of “prescribe”, “order” or “determine”. For example: "the doctor prescribed me a medicine" or "this ordinance must be prescribed by a judge".
On the other hand, when the verb acts intransitively, that is, it does not require a direct object, its meaning changes to "expired" or "expired". For example: "The fine they gave me expired last year" or "His authority as manager expired as soon as he announced his resignation."
Let's look at other example sentences:
- “Did you bring the doctor's prescription? Or has he not prescribed anything for you yet?
- “The lawsuit of the family against the State has prescribed today without consequences”.
- "Haven't the crimes you committed in Atacama prescribed yet?"
- "This arrest warrant is prescribed by the competent international courts."
prescribed or prescribed
There are two different forms for this adjective: prescribed and prescribed, the latter more common in the Spanish-speaking regions near the Río de la Plata, in South America, specifically in Argentina and Uruguay. Both forms are acceptable and, according to the Dictionary of Doubts of the Royal Spanish Academy, there is no discrepancy (except phonetics) between the two words.