Prescribe vs Direct - What's the difference?
prescribe | direct | Related terms |
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
Straight, constant, without interruption.
Straight; not crooked, oblique, or circuitous; leading by the short or shortest way to a point or end.
Straightforward; sincere.
* Shakespeare
Immediate; express; plain; unambiguous.
* John Locke
* Hallam
In the line of descent; not collateral.
(astronomy) In the direction of the general planetary motion, or from west to east; in the order of the signs; not retrograde; said of the motion of a celestial body.
Directly.
* 2009 , Hilary Mantel, Wolf Hall , Fourth Estate 2010, p. 346:
To manage, control, steer.
To aim (something) at (something else).
To point out or show to (somebody) the right course or way; to guide, as by pointing out the way.
* Lubbock
To point out to with authority; to instruct as a superior; to order.
* Shakespeare
(dated) To put a direction or address upon; to mark with the name and residence of the person to whom anything is sent.
As verbs the difference between prescribe and direct
is that prescribe is to order (a drug or medical device) for use by a particular patient while direct is to manage, control, steer.As an adjective direct is
straight, constant, without interruption.As an adverb direct is
directly.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 ----direct
English
Adjective
(er)- the most direct route between two buildings
- Be even and direct with me.
- He nowhere, that I know, says it in direct words.
- a direct and avowed interference with elections
- a descendant in the direct line
Antonyms
* indirectDerived terms
* direct action * direct current * direct flight * direct initiative * direct object * direct quoteAdverb
(en adverb)- Presumably Mary is to carry messages that she, Anne, is too delicate to convey direct .
Verb
(en verb)- to direct the affairs of a nation or the movements of an army
- They directed their fire towards the men on the wall.
- He directed his question to the room in general.
- He directed me to the left-hand road.
- the next points to which I will direct your attention
- She directed them to leave immediately.
- I'll first direct my men what they shall do.
- to direct a letter