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Refuse vs Prescribe - What's the difference?

refuse | prescribe |

As verbs the difference between refuse and prescribe

is that refuse is while prescribe is to order (a drug or medical device) for use by a particular patient.

refuse

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) .

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Discarded, rejected.

    • Noun

    (-)
  • (UK) Collectively, items or material that have been discarded; rubbish, garbage.
    • Synonyms
    * discards * garbage (US ) * rubbish (UK ) * trash (US ) * See also

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) refuser, from .

    Verb

    (refus)
  • To decline (a request or demand).
    • My request for a pay rise was refused .
    I refuse to listen to this nonsense any more.
  • * Bible, Isa. i. 20
    • If ye refuse ye shall be devoured with the sword.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=September 27 , author=Alistair Magowan , title=Bayern Munich 2 - 0 Man City , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=City were outclassed thereafter and Roberto Mancini said that substitute Carlos Tevez refused to play.}}
  • To decline a request or demand, forbear; to withhold permission.
    • I asked the star if I could have her autograph, but she refused .
  • (military) To throw back, or cause to keep back (as the centre, a wing, or a flank), out of the regular alignment when troops are about to engage the enemy.
    • to refuse the right wing while the left wing attacks
  • (obsolete) To disown.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Refuse thy name.
    Usage notes
    * This is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive . See
    Synonyms
    * (decline) decline, reject, nill, say no to, turn down, veto, withsake * (decline a request or demand) say no, forbear

    Noun

  • (obsolete) refusal
    • (Fairfax)
    English heteronyms English reporting verbs ----

    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)
  • To order (a drug or medical device) for use by a particular patient.
    • The doctor prescribed aspirin.
  • To specify as a required procedure or ritual; to lay down authoritatively as a guide, direction, or rule of action.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Prescribe not us our duties.
  • * Dryden
    • Let streams prescribe their fountains where to run.

    Related terms

    * prescription * prescriptive * prescriptivism * prescriptivist

    See also

    * proscribe English transitive verbs ----