dic·tate

[v. dik-teyt, dik-teyt; n. dik-teyt] verb, dic·tat·ed, dic·tat·ing, noun
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

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.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Dictate is one of our favorite verbs.
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to spend time idly; loaf.
to expurgate (a written work) by removing or modifying passages considered vulgar or objectionable.
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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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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.
Tropical trade winds dictate much of Hawaii's weather.
Many people who dictate into their computers do it because they must, perhaps
  because of a disability.
It does nothing to dictate an employer's ultimate decision.
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