to say or read (something) aloud for another person to transcribe or for a machine to record: to dictate some letters to a secretary.
to prescribe or lay down authoritatively or peremptorily; command unconditionally: to dictate peace terms to a conquered enemy.
verb (used without object),dic·tat·ed,dic·tat·ing.
to say or read aloud something to be written down by a person or recorded by a machine.
to give orders.
noun
an authoritative order or command.
a guiding or governing principle, requirement, etc.: to follow the dictates of one's conscience.
Origin of dictate
1585–95; < Latindictātus, past participle of dictāre to say repeatedly, prescribe, order, frequentative of dīcere to say
Related formsdic·tat·ing·ly, adverbmis·dic·tat·ed, adjectivepre·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
1590s, "to practice dictation, say aloud for another to write down," from Latin dictatus, past participle of dictare "say often, prescribe," frequentative of dicere "tell, say" (see diction). Sense of "to command" is 1620s. Related: Dictated; dictates; dictating.
n.
1590s, from Latin dictatum "something dictated," noun use of neuter past participle of dictare (see dictate (v.)).
