prescriptionist

comparative more prescriptionist · superlative most prescriptionist

1. human sciencesRelying on historical precedent rather than current usage (to determine rights or correctness).

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

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

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   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).

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

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

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

   Synonyms: prescriptionistic, prescriptive, prescriptivist, prescriptivistic

plural prescriptionists

1. One who advocates a prescriptionist approach.

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

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

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

   2005, G. Edwards, Narrative Order, 1789-1819: Life and Story in an Age of Revolution, →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.

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

2. A specialist in preparing medications.

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

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

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   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.

   1907, The Northwestern Druggist, page 19

   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.

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

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

3. One who prescribes.

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

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

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   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.

   1974, John P Slusher, Thomas M Hinkley, Proceedings, page 61

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

   1996, Overseas Employment Opportunities for Educators, →ISBN