Take this, and pray...

Why is Rx used as an abbreviation for prescription? 

When we see the Rx abbreviation on a sign or bottle – we know it has to do with medicine. So what does Rx have to do with medicine? The R part of the symbol stands for the Latin “recipere” which means “take this.” The x part of the symbol is derived from the symbol for the Roman God, Jupiter. It represents a prayer or invocation to Jupiter that the treatment would result in a cure, with divine help. So Rx really means “take this and pray.”