An easement by prescription is best described as which of the following?

An easement by prescription is best described as an adverse use because it arises from the continuous and uninterrupted use of someone else’s property without permission, in a manner that is open, notorious, and adverse to the rights of the property owner for a statutory period. This use establishes the right to use that property in a specific manner, typically for access or a pathway, even though the user does not actually own the property.

The concept of adverse use emphasizes that the user has acted without the owner’s consent, which is critical in establishing a prescriptive easement. Over time, if the use of the property meets the legal requirements, the user can gain a legal right to continue that use despite the fact that they started using it without permission. This principle underlines the importance of usage over ownership rights in the context of property law.