dictate
Use Dictate in a sentence
teɪt, dɪkˈteɪt; verb (used with object)
1.
to say or read (something) aloud for another person to transcribe or for a machine to record: to dictate some letters to a secretary.
2.
to prescribe or lay down authoritatively or peremptorily; command unconditionally: to dictate peace terms to a conquered enemy.
verb (used without object)
3.
to say or read aloud something to be written down by a person or recorded by a machine.
4.
to give orders.
noun
5.
an authoritative order or command.
6.
a guiding or governing principle, requirement, etc.: to follow the dictates of one's conscience.
Origin:
1585–95; < Latin dictātus, past participle of dictāre to say repeatedly, prescribe, order, frequentative of dīcere to say
1585–95; < Latin dictātus, past participle of dictāre to say repeatedly, prescribe, order, frequentative of dīcere to say
Related forms
dic·tat·ing·ly, adverb
mis·dic·tat·ed, adjective
pre·dic·tate, verb (used with object), pre·dic·tat·ed, pre·dic·tat·ing.
re·dic·tate, verb, re·dic·tat·ed, re·dic·tat·ing.
un·dic·tat·ed, adjective
Synonyms
6. bidding, urging, prompting.
6. bidding, urging, prompting.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To dictate
00:10
Dictate
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is kibitz. Does it mean:
| to steal or take dishonestly (money, esp. public funds, or property entrusted to one's care); embezzle. |
| chat, to converse |
Collins
World English Dictionary
| dictate | |
| —vb | |
| 1. | to say (messages, letters, speeches, etc) aloud for mechanical recording or verbatim transcription by another person |
| 2. | (tr) to prescribe (commands) authoritatively |
| 3. | (intr) to act in a tyrannical manner; seek to impose one's will on others |
| —n | |
| 4. | an authoritative command |
| 5. | a guiding principle or rule: the dictates of reason |
| [C17: from Latin dictāre to say repeatedly, order, from dīcere to say] | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
dictate
1590s, "to practice dictation," from L. dictatus, pp. of dictare "say often, prescribe," frequentative of dicere "tell, say" (see diction). Sense of "command" is 1620s. The noun is from 1590s. Related: Dictated; dictates; dictating.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
Then you hold down a button and dictate the command.
Then she transcribes what you've dictated in orderly fashion, with a workload she can plan.
The metal or metals within the pyrotechnic mixture and the burning temperature dictate the color and intensity of the light.
Capacity, of course, is a key influencer of the industry's ability to dictate fares.
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