ETYM French prescription, Latin praescriptio, an inscription, preface, precept, demurrer, prescription, from praescribere. Related to Prescribe.
In medicine, an order written in a recognized form by a practitioner of medicine, dentistry, or veterinary surgery to a pharmacist for a preparation of medications to be used in treatment.
By tradition it used to be written in Latin, except for the directions addressed to the patient. It consists of (1) the superscription recipe (“take”), contracted to Rx; (2) the inscription or body, containing the names and quantities of the drugs to be dispensed; (3) the subscription, or directions to the pharmacist; (4) the signature, followed by directions to the patient; and (5) the patient’s name, the date, and the practitioner’s name.
1. Directions for achieving a therapeutic effect.
2. Written instructions for an optician on the lenses for a given person.
3. Written instructions from a physician or dentist to a druggist concerning the form and dosage of a drug to be issued to a given patient.

(Of medicinal drugs) Available only with a doctor's written prescription