from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Proscribe \Pro*scribe"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Proscribed}; p.
pr. & vb. n. {Proscribing}.] [L. proscribere, proscriptum, to
write before, to publish, proscribe; pro before + scribere to
write. See {Scribe}. The sense of this word originated in the
Roman practice of writing the names of persons doomed to
death, and posting the list in public.]
1. To doom to destruction; to put out of the protection of
law; to outlaw; to exile; as, Sylla and Marius proscribed
each other's adherents.
[1913 Webster]
Robert Vere, Earl of Oxford, . . . was banished the
realm, and proscribed. --Spenser.
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2. To denounce and condemn; to interdict; to prohibit; as,
the Puritans proscribed theaters.
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The Arian doctrines were proscribed and
anathematized in the famous Council of Nice.
--Waterland.
[1913 Webster]
from
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)
PROSCRIBED, civil law. Among the Romans, a man was said to be proscribed
when a reward was offered for his head; but the term was more usually
applied to those who were sentenced to some punishment which carried with it
the consequences of civil death. Code, 9; 49.