prescriptionist

English

Etymology

From prescription +‎ -ist.

Adjective

prescriptionist (comparative more prescriptionist, superlative most prescriptionist)

1. (political science, linguistics) Relying on historical precedent rather than current usage (to determine rights or correctness).

   Synonyms: prescriptionistic, prescriptive, prescriptivist, prescriptivistic

   • 1996, James P. Bruce, Hoe-sŏng Yi, Erik F. Haites, Climate Change 1995, →ISBN:

     Much of the disagreement between the prescriptionist and descriptionist views turns on the question of compensation among generations.

   • 2008, Maria Elisa Paredes, Language Attitudes, Linguistic Knowledge, and the Multicultural Education of Pre-Service Teachers, →ISBN:

     Educators often come into the profession with a certain view of language that is more prescriptionist in nature (Edwards, 1982; Taylor, 1983; Trudgill, 1975; Williams, 1976).

   • 2014, Stuart Nicholson, Is Jazz Dead?: Or Has It Moved to a New Address, →ISBN, page 174:

     Teaching the English language may be their bread and butter, but they are unable to enforce the notion of a 'standard prescriptionist English.'

Noun

prescriptionist (plural prescriptionists)

1. One who advocates a prescriptionist approach.
   • 2005, G. Edwards, Narrative Order, 1789-1819: Life and Story in an Age of Revolution, →ISBN:

     In a fine essay, Terry Eagleton has argued that rights, for a prescriptionist like Burke, are validated by 'the recounting of a certain narrative'.

   • 2009, Paul V. Kroskrity, Margaret C. Field, Native American Language Ideologies, →ISBN:

     When there are many speakers of a language around, even the staunchest prescriptionist would agree that the manner of spelling is less vital to the perpetuation of the language.

   • 2013, Rachel Schutt, Cathy O'Neil, Doing Data Science: Straight Talk from the Frontline, →ISBN, page 13:

     But that would depend on us being a usagist rather than a prescriptionist with respect to language.

2. A specialist in preparing medications.
   • 1907, The Northwestern Druggist, page 19:

     The practical prescriptionist is an expert at compatibility, for his daily work brings him continually face to face with the problems of compatibility and incompatibility; and he usually knows more Meteria Medica (not Therapeutics) than all the physicians in his town.

   • 1984, Joaquin Bonal, J. W. Poston, Clinical Pharmacy and Patient Education, →ISBN:

     In the meantime the prescriptionist transfers data from the doctor's prescription to the computer. The computer prices the drug and writes out a label while the prescriptionist collects the prescribed drug.

   • 2009, Alice Schroeder, The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life, →ISBN:

     He started to think of himself as being like "a prescriptionist." "I had to explain to people who didn't know enough about whether they should take aspirin or Anacin," and people would do anything the "guy in the white coat" -- the stockbroker-- told them to do.

   • 2013, Robin Sterling, People and Things from the Cullman, Alabama Tribune 1877 - 1898, →ISBN:

     He has served as a prescriptionist to the leading pharmacists of the old country, and been employed in many of our American cities.

3. One who prescribes.
   • 1974, John P Slusher, Thomas M Hinkley, Proceedings, page 61:

     In North Carolina, as throughout the Southern Region, all timber management prescriptions are prepared by a certified compartment prescriptionist, a forester, who has completed formal training and has demonstrated proficiency in on-the-job application of standard silvicultural practices.

   • 1985, J. Gavin Reid, John M. Thomson, Exercise Prescription for Fitness, page 38:

     The exercise prescriptionist must be aware of these various causes when assessing posture.

   • 1996, Overseas Employment Opportunities for Educators, →ISBN:

     Experience as an educational prescriptionist or in any other teaching field is not considered qualifying experience.

Synonyms

• prescriptivist