Question

proscribe Despite thousands of laws proscribing littering, many of America's streets and public spaces continue to be dumping grounds. proʊˈskraɪb

Accepted Answer

To forbid as harmful or unlawful; prohibit. The Latin prefix pro- sometimes meant “before,” in the sense of “in front of” the people. So in ancient Rome proscribere meant to make public in writing the name of a person who was about to be executed, and whose property would be seized by the state. But the meaning of the English word soon shifted to mean simply “prohibit” instead. Proscribe today is actually often the opposite of the very similar prescribe, which means basically “require.

word	proscribe
definition	To forbid as harmful or unlawful; prohibit.
eg_sentence	Despite thousands of laws proscribing littering, many of America's streets and public spaces continue to be dumping grounds.
explanation	The Latin prefix pro- sometimes meant “before,” in the sense of “in front of” the people. So in ancient Rome proscribere meant to make public in writing the name of a person who was about to be executed, and whose property would be seized by the state. But the meaning of the English word soon shifted to mean simply “prohibit” instead. Proscribe today is actually often the opposite of the very similar prescribe, which means basically “require.
IPA	proʊˈskraɪb

Proscribe Public Meant Forbid Harmful Unlawful Prohibit Thousands