Late 16th century (in an earlier sense). From Middle French, French rescription action of rewriting or of adding to what one has written, action of replying in writing, written reply, written order for a sum of money, promissory note issued by a government and its etymon classical Latin rescriptiōn-, rescriptiō written reply from the emperor giving his decision, in post-classical Latin also papal rescript from rescript-, past participial stem of rescrībere + -iō.