GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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Found one definition

1.       
   Prescriptive (?), a. [L. praescriptivus of a demurrer or legal exception.]
   1. (Law) Consisting in, or acquired by, immemorial or long-continued use and enjoyment; as, “a prescriptive right of title”; pleading the continuance and authority of long custom.
   
   [1913 Webster]
   
   The right to be drowsy in protracted toil has become prescriptive. J. M. Mason.
   
   [1913 Webster]
   
   
   2. Of or pertaining to the doctrine that acceptable grammatical rules should be prescribed by authority, rather than be determined by common usage.
   
   [PJC]