praescriptĭo (noun F) : praescribo.
* A writing before or in front, a prefixing in writing; hence, meton., a title, inscription, preface, introduction, commencement: praescriptio legis,Cic. Agr. 2, 9, 22: tribuniciae potestatis,Tac. A. 1, 7.
* Trop.
* A pretext, excuse, pretence: ut honestā praescriptione rem turpissimam tegerent,Caes. B. C. 3, 32.
* A precept, order, rule, law: dummodo illa praescriptio moderatioque teneatur,Cic. Cael. 18, 42: hanc normam, hanc regulam, hanc praescriptionem esse naturae, a quā, etc.,id. Ac. 2, 46, 140: rationis,id. Tusc. 4, 9, 22: in hac praescriptione semi-horae,id. Rab. Perd. 2, 6: sine praescriptione generis aut numeri,without previous limitation,Tac. A. 6, 15.
* In law, an exception, objection, demurrer: aut intentio, aut praescriptio habet controversiam,Quint. 7, 5, 2: praescriptionem alicui opponere,Dig. 44, tit. 44, 11.
* Esp., a limitation of the subject-matter in a suit, by a form of words: praescriptiones autem appellatas ab eo, quod ante formulas praescribuntur,Gai. Inst. 4, 132; cf. id. ib. 4, 130 sqq.
* Transf., a philosophical objection, a subtlety, sophism: exceptiones et praescriptiones philosophorum,Sen. Ep. 48, 12.
* Limitation as to time, prescription, Dig. 18, 1, 76.

s. TLL