Dictionary
Thesaurus
Reference
Translate
Web
Related Searches
on Ask.com
Synonyms
Nearby Entries
dictator - 3 dictionary results

dic⋅ta⋅tor

  [dik-tey-ter, dik-tey-ter]
Use dictator in a Sentence
–noun
1. a person exercising absolute power, esp. a ruler who has absolute, unrestricted control in a government without hereditary succession.
2. (in ancient Rome) a person invested with supreme authority during a crisis, the regular magistracy being subordinated to him until the crisis was met.
3. a person who authoritatively prescribes conduct, usage, etc.: a dictator of fashion.
4. a person who dictates, as to a secretary.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME < L dictātor, equiv. to dictā(re) (see dictate ) + -tor -tor
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To dictator
dic·ta·tor   (dĭk'tā'tər, dĭk-tā'-)   
n.  
    1. An absolute ruler.
    2. A tyrant; a despot.
  2. An ancient Roman magistrate appointed temporarily to deal with an immediate crisis or emergency.
  3. One who dictates: These initials are those of the dictator of the letter.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

Dictator

Dic*ta"tor\, n. [L.]

1. One who dictates; one who prescribes rules and maxims authoritatively for the direction of others. --Locke.

2. One invested with absolute authority; especially, a magistrate created in times of exigence and distress, and invested with unlimited power.

Invested with the authority of a dictator, nay, of a pope, over our language. --Macaulay.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Cite This Source
Language Translation for : dictator
Spanish: dictador,
German: der Diktator,
Japanese: 独裁者
More Translations »
Search another word or see dictator on Thesaurus | Reference