“prescribe”? Inscribe (Write in) Prescribe (Write before) “in-” means in, “pre-” means before. Inscribe means to write in or on. Prescribe means to write a note beforehand, for example, when a doctor prescribes a painkiller. What is the meaning of the word part that they share? They share the root word “Scribe” which means write.
What is the difference in meaning between the words “inscribe” and “prescribe”? Inscribe (Write in) Prescribe (Write before) “in-” means in, “pre-” means before. Inscribe means to write in or on. Prescribe means to write a note beforehand, for example, when a doctor prescribes a painkiller. What is the meaning of the word part that they share? They share the root word “Scribe” which means write.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer:
The words “inscribe” and “prescribe” share the root word “scribe”, which means “to write”. The prefixes “in-” and “pre-” change the meaning of the root. “Inscribe” means to write in or on something, while “prescribe” means to write beforehand, such as giving written instructions or rules, often by a doctor.
Explanation:
The words inscribe and prescribe are both built from a Latin root and prefixes that help give them specific meanings. The root word “scribe” comes from Latin scribere, which means “to write”. This root appears in many English words that involve writing, such as describe, subscribe, or manuscript.
The prefix “in-“ means “in” or “into”, so inscribe literally means “to write in” or “write on.” When someone inscribes a message into a book or a stone monument, they are writing something onto a surface. For example, someone might inscribe a dedication into the front of a book as a personal message to the recipient.
On the other hand, “pre-“ means “before”, so prescribe literally means “to write before.” This makes sense especially in the medical field. When a doctor prescribes medicine, they are writing instructions for treatment before the patient receives it. It can also mean giving rules or guidelines ahead of time, as in “The law prescribes a penalty for speeding.”
Even though both words contain “scribe,” the prefixes “in-” and “pre-” change their meanings significantly. The shared root helps us recognize that both actions involve writing, but the direction or purpose of that writing differs based on the prefix. Understanding the root and the prefixes helps in learning the meanings of many English words that follow similar patterns
