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dictate

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dic⋅tate

  [v. dik-teyt, dik-teyt; n. dik-teyt] verb, -tat⋅ed, -tat⋅ing, noun
Use dictate in a Sentence
–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; < L dictātus, ptp. of dictāre to say repeatedly, prescribe, order, freq. of dīcere to say

Related forms:
dic⋅tat⋅ing⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
6. bidding, urging, prompting.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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dic·tate   (dĭk'tāt', dĭk-tāt')   
v.   dic·tat·ed, dic·tat·ing, dic·tates

v.   tr.

  1. To say or read aloud to be recorded or written by another: dictate a letter.

    1. To prescribe with authority; impose: dictated the rules of the game.

    2. To control or command: "Foreign leaders were . . . dictated by their own circumstances, bound by the universal imperatives of politics" (Doris Kearns Goodwin).

v.   intr.

  1. To say or read aloud material to be recorded or written by another: dictated for an hour before leaving for the day.

  2. To issue orders or commands.

n.   (dĭk'tāt')

  1. A directive; a command.

  2. A guiding principle: followed the dictates of my conscience.


[Latin dictāre, dictāt-, frequentative of dīcere, to say; see deik- in Indo-European roots.]
Synonyms: These verbs mean to set forth expressly and authoritatively: victors dictating the terms of surrender; martial law decreed by the governor; impose obedience; a separation seemingly ordained by fate; taxes prescribed by law.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

dictate  (v.)
1592, "to practice dictation," from L. dictatus, pp. of dictare "say often, prescribe," freq. of dicere "tell, say" (see diction). Sense of "command" is 1621. The noun is from 1594. A dictator (1387) was a judge in the Roman republic temporarily invested with absolute power. Dictaphone is from 1907, a proprietary name (Columbia Phonograph Co.). Dictograph was patented 1907 in U.S. by K.M. Turner and W. Donnan.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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