proscriptive

[ proh-skrip-tiv ]

adjective

1. involving, imposing, or defining limits or prohibitions:

   We want the guidelines to be useful, broadly applicable, and not overly proscriptive and narrow.

   Rather than a proscriptive diet, in which the patient is limited to eating certain foods and measured portions, we encourage eating a wide range of foods in moderation.

Other Words From

• pro·scrip·tive·ly adverb
• non·pro·scrip·tive adjective
• non·pro·scrip·tive·ly adverb
• un·pro·scrip·tive adjective
• un·pro·scrip·tive·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of proscriptive¹

First recorded in 1740–50; from Latin prōscript-, stem of prōscrībere “to publish in writing” ( proscribe ( def ) ) + -ive ( def )

Related Words

• excessive
• exorbitant
• preposterous
• steep