'prescriptivist' originates from English, specifically the word 'prescriptive' with the agentive suffix '-ist', where 'prescriptive' ultimately comes from Latin 'praescribere', in which 'prae-' meant 'before' and 'scribere' meant 'to write'.

'prescriptivist' changed through a sequence: Latin 'praescribere' → Old French 'prescrire' → Middle English 'prescribe' → adjective 'prescriptive' → modern English noun 'prescriptivist'.

Initially related to the act 'to write before' or 'to prescribe' (giving instructions), but over time it evolved into the agent noun meaning 'a person who prescribes rules or enforces standards' (especially regarding language).