by prescriptive/descriptive, i am referring to the idea that dictionaries should prescribe how a words should be used, (set standards, and expect the speakers of english to keep to these standards) vs. thise who think dictionaries should describe how words are actually being used, (how english is actually being spoken, recording the shifts in usage and not presuming there is a right or wrong way)
Thanks, Helen--I need reminding of those meanings from time to time. I actually think I'm kind of 100% predescriptive.