dictate

dictate
I. verb (dictated; dictating) Etymology: Latin dictatus, past participle of dictare to assert, dictate, frequentative of dicere to say — more at diction Date: 1581 intransitive verb 1. to give dictation 2. to speak or act domineeringly ; prescribe transitive verb 1. to speak or read for a person to transcribe or for a machine to record 2. a. to issue as an order b. to impose, pronounce, or specify authoritatively c. to require or determine necessarily <
injuries dictated the choice of players
>
II. noun Date: 1594 1. a. an authoritative rule, prescription, or injunction b. a ruling principle <
according to the dictates of your conscience
>
2. a command by one in authority

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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Synonyms:
, , , , , , , , , , , / (so that another may repeat or write), , ,


Look at other dictionaries:

  • dictate — vb Dictate, prescribe, ordain, decree, impose mean to lay down expressly something to be followed, observed, obeyed, or accepted. Dictate implies an authoritative direction by or as if by the spoken word which serves in governing or guiding one s …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Dictate — Dic tate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Dictated}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Dictating}.] [L. dictatus, p. p. of dictare, freq. of dicere to say. See {Diction}, and cf. {Dight}.] 1. To tell or utter so that another may write down; to inspire; to compose; as, to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Dictate — Dic tate, v. i. 1. To speak as a superior; to command; to impose conditions (on). [1913 Webster] Who presumed to dictate to the sovereign. Macaulay. [1913 Webster] 2. To compose literary works; to tell what shall be written or said by another.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • dictate — [n] command; rule behest, bidding, code, decree, dictum, direction, edict, fiat, injunction, law, mandate, order, ordinance, precept, principle, requirement, statute, ultimatum, word; concepts 274,318,688 Ant. request dictate [v1] command; give… …   New thesaurus

  • dictate to — [phrasal verb] dictate to (someone) : to give orders to (someone) usually used as (be) dictated to I resent being dictated to by someone with half my experience. • • • Main Entry: ↑dictate …   Useful english dictionary

  • Dictate — Dic tate, n. [L. dictatum. See {Dictate}, v. t.] A statement delivered with authority; an order; a command; an authoritative rule, principle, or maxim; a prescription; as, listen to the dictates of your conscience; the dictates of the gospel.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • dictate — I noun act, authoritative suggestion, behest, charge, command, commandment, commission, decree, demand, direction, edict, enactment, fiat, imperative, imperious direction, injunction, instruction, judgment, law, mandate, order, ordinance,… …   Law dictionary

  • dictate — is pronounced with the stress on the first syllable as a noun (as in the dictates of conscience) and with the stress on the second syllable as a verb (as in dictate a letter) …   Modern English usage

  • Dictate — can refer to: Dictation (disambiguation) Dictator Edict This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point direc …   Wikipedia

  • dictate — ► VERB 1) state or order authoritatively. 2) say or read aloud (words to be typed or written down). 3) control or determine. ► NOUN ▪ an order or principle that must be obeyed. DERIVATIVES dictation noun …   English terms dictionary

  • dictate — [dik′tāt΄; ] also, for v. [ dik tāt′] vt., vi. dictated, dictating [< L dictatus, pp. of dictare, freq. of dicere, to speak: see DICTION] 1. to speak or read (something) aloud for someone else to write down 2. to prescribe or command… …   English World dictionary

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