Who presumed to dictate to the sovereign.
--Macaulay.
[1913 Webster]
2. To compose literary works; to tell what shall be written
or said by another.
[1913 Webster]
Sylla could not skill of letters, and therefore knew not how to dictate. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
dictate — vb Dictate, prescribe, ordain, decree, impose mean to lay down expressly something to be followed, observed, obeyed, or accepted. Dictate implies an authoritative direction by or as if by the spoken word which serves in governing or guiding one s … New Dictionary of Synonyms
Dictate — Dic tate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Dictated}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Dictating}.] [L. dictatus, p. p. of dictare, freq. of dicere to say. See {Diction}, and cf. {Dight}.] 1. To tell or utter so that another may write down; to inspire; to compose; as, to… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
dictate — [n] command; rule behest, bidding, code, decree, dictum, direction, edict, fiat, injunction, law, mandate, order, ordinance, precept, principle, requirement, statute, ultimatum, word; concepts 274,318,688 Ant. request dictate [v1] command; give… … New thesaurus
dictate to — [phrasal verb] dictate to (someone) : to give orders to (someone) usually used as (be) dictated to I resent being dictated to by someone with half my experience. • • • Main Entry: ↑dictate … Useful english dictionary
Dictate — Dic tate, n. [L. dictatum. See {Dictate}, v. t.] 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.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
dictate — I noun act, authoritative suggestion, behest, charge, command, commandment, commission, decree, demand, direction, edict, enactment, fiat, imperative, imperious direction, injunction, instruction, judgment, law, mandate, order, ordinance,… … Law dictionary
dictate — is pronounced with the stress on the first syllable as a noun (as in the dictates of conscience) and with the stress on the second syllable as a verb (as in dictate a letter) … Modern English usage
Dictate — can refer to: Dictation (disambiguation) Dictator Edict This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point direc … Wikipedia
dictate — ► VERB 1) state or order authoritatively. 2) say or read aloud (words to be typed or written down). 3) control or determine. ► NOUN ▪ an order or principle that must be obeyed. DERIVATIVES dictation noun … English terms dictionary
dictate — [dik′tāt΄; ] also, for v. [ dik tāt′] vt., vi. dictated, dictating [< L dictatus, pp. of dictare, freq. of dicere, to speak: see DICTION] 1. to speak or read (something) aloud for someone else to write down 2. to prescribe or command… … English World dictionary
