Prescribe vs Administer - What's the difference?
prescribe | administer |
To order (a drug or medical device) for use by a particular patient.
To specify as a required procedure or ritual; to lay down authoritatively as a guide, direction, or rule of action.
* Shakespeare
* Dryden
To cause to take, either by openly offering or through deceit.
* Macaulay
To apportion out.
* Spectator
* Macaulay
* Philips
To manage or supervise the conduct, performance or execution of; to govern or regulate the parameters for the conduct, performance or execution of; to work in an administrative capacity.
* Alexander Pope
To minister (to).
(legal) To settle, as the estate of one who dies without a will, or whose will fails of an executor.
To tender, as an oath.
* Shakespeare
As verbs the difference between prescribe and administer
is that prescribe is to order (a drug or medical device) for use by a particular patient while administer is to cause to take, either by openly offering or through deceit.prescribe
English
Alternative forms
* (archaic)Usage notes
* The pronunciation with the stressed first syllable is normally used only when added distinction from (proscribe) is required.Verb
(prescrib)- The doctor prescribed aspirin.
- Prescribe not us our duties.
- Let streams prescribe their fountains where to run.
See also
* proscribe English transitive verbs ----administer
English
Alternative forms
* administre (obsolete)Verb
(en verb)- We administered the medicine to our dog by mixing it in his food.
- A noxious drug had been administered to him.
- A fountain administers to the pleasure as well as the plenty of the place.
- Justice was administered with an exactness and purity not before known.
- [Let zephyrs] administer their tepid, genial airs.
- For forms of government let fools contest: / Whate'er is best administered is best.
- administering to the sick
- Swear to keep the oath that we administer .