proscribe

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /prəˈskraɪb/
• (US) IPA ^(key): /ˈproʊˌskraɪb/
• (UK) IPA ^(key): /ˈprəʊˌskraɪb/

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

Verb

Plain form proscribe

Third-person singular proscribes

Past tense proscribed

Past participle proscribed

Present participle proscribing

1. (transitive) To proscribe something is to forbid it--to say it is not allowed.

   During prohibition in the US, drinking alcohol was proscribed.

2. (transitive) To proscribe something is the opposite of supporting it--to proscribe something is to say that it is bad or that people should not do it.

   Many books proscribe the use of the word 'ain't'.

Antonyms

• prescribe

Related words

• proscription
• proscriptive