What does dictate mean?

Definitions for dictate
ˈdɪk teɪt, dɪkˈteɪt; ˈdɪk teɪtdic·tate

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word dictate.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. dictatenoun

    an authoritative rule

  2. dictateverb

    a guiding principle

    "the dictates of reason"

  3. order, prescribe, dictateverb

    issue commands or orders for

  4. dictateverb

    say out loud for the purpose of recording

    "He dictated a report to his secretary"

  5. dictateverb

    rule as a dictator

Wiktionary

  1. dictatenoun

    An order or command.

    I must obey the dictates of my conscience.

  2. dictateverb

    To order, command, control.

  3. dictateverb

    To speak in order for someone to write down the words.

  4. Etymology: From dictatus, perfect passive participle of dicto, frequentative of dico.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. Dictatenoun

    Rule or maxim delivered with authority; prescription; prescript.

    Etymology: dictatum, Latin.

    Others cast about for new discoveries, and to seek in their own thoughts for those right helps of art which will scarce be found, I fear, by those who servilely confine themselves to the dictates of others. John Locke.

    I credit what the Grecian dictates say,
    And Samian sounds o’er Scota’s hills convey. Matthew Prior.

    Then let this dictate of my love prevail;
    Instant, to foreign realms prepare to sail,
    To learn your father’s fortunes. Alexander Pope, Odyssey, b. i.

  2. To DICTATEverb

    To deliver to another with authority; to declare with confidence.

    Etymology: dicto, Latin.

    The spoils of elephants the roofs inlay,
    And studded amber darts a golden ray;
    Such, and not nobler, in the realms above,
    My wonder dictates is the dome of Jove. Alexander Pope, Odyssey.

    Whatsoever is dictated to us by God himself, or by men who are divinely inspired, must be believed with full assurance. Isaac Watts, Logick.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Dictateverb

    to tell or utter so that another may write down; to inspire; to compose; as, to dictate a letter to an amanuensis

  2. Dictateverb

    to say; to utter; to communicate authoritatively; to deliver (a command) to a subordinate; to declare with authority; to impose; as, to dictate the terms of a treaty; a general dictates orders to his troops

  3. Dictateverb

    to speak as a superior; to command; to impose conditions (on)

  4. Dictateverb

    to compose literary works; to tell what shall be written or said by another

  5. Dictateverb

    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

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Dictate

    dik′tāt, v.t. to tell another what to say or write: to communicate with authority: to point out: to command—(arch. Dict).—n. an order, rule, or direction: impulse.—ns. Dictā′tion, act, art, or practice of dictating: overbearing command; Dictā′tor, one invested for a time with absolute authority—originally an extraordinary Roman magistrate:—fem. Dictā′tress, Dictātrix.—adj. Dictatō′rial, like a dictator: absolute: authoritative.—adv. Dictatō′rially.—ns. Dictā′torship, Dic′tature.—adj. Dic′tatory. [L. dictāre, -ātumdicĕre, to say.]

Editors Contribution

  1. dictateverb

    Dielectric orders computing tomography monetary units of Musa, equal to 24 carrot gold diamond elements. 1.) lay down authoritatively; prescribe. Control or decisively affect; determined. 2.) say or read aloud the words to be typed down, or recorded on audio. 3.) an order or principal that must be obeyed.

    I dictate my new founded sign language after the orders of our father El Shaddai Forever to be living in the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ.

    Etymology: Authorize


    Submitted by Tehorah_Elyon on April 24, 2024  

Matched Categories

British National Corpus

  1. Verbs Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'dictate' in Verbs Frequency: #951

How to pronounce dictate?

How to say dictate in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of dictate in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of dictate in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8

Examples of dictate in a Sentence

  1. James Comer:

    President Biden has a pattern of putting unions first and Americans last, first, he allowed a radical teachers union to dictate scientific guidance effectively keeping children locked out of their classrooms. Now, he’s granted ethics waivers to allow former union officials to wield government power on behalf of the union bosses. This is a conflict of interest, pure and simple. The Biden Administration must provide answers about these controversial appointments.

  2. Richard Kovacevich:

    ETFs don't want to spend the money, but saving money shouldn't dictate how people vote. It's undemocratic.

  3. Igor Sechin:

    The 1970s, when a series of the largest Middle East producers could determine global oil market conditions by creating cartel structures such as OPEC, should be forgotten, at the moment a number of objective factors exclude the possibility for any cartels to dictate their will to the market. ... As for OPEC, it has practically stopped existing as a united organisation.

  4. David Ortiz:

    This is our f**king city, and nobody's going to dictate our freedom. Stay strong.

  5. Mark Dubowitz:

    What happened with the sailors, to me, is an indication that the Revolutionary Guards are sending a message to Obama and to Rouhani that they are in charge, the deal may have been negotiated with Rouhani and Zarif, but it will be the Revolutionary Guards who will dictate the terms and dictate the implementation.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

dictate#10000#20832#100000

Translations for dictate

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"dictate." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 8 May 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/dictate>.

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    an exhilarating psychological state of pride and optimism; an absence of depression
    A elation
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