Forbidding or prohibiting something; serving to condemn or denounce as harmful or undesirable. Describes rules or attitudes that ban rather than allow.
From Latin 'proscriptus,' past participle of 'proscribere' meaning 'to publish' or 'to outlaw,' combining 'pro-' (publicly) and 'scribere' (to write). Originally referred to posting public notices of banishment or condemnation.
Don't confuse with 'prescriptive'! Think 'pro-script' = writing against something publicly, like posting a 'PROHIBITED' sign. Proscriptive rules prohibit; prescriptive rules prescribe.
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