dictate

[dik-teyt, dik-teyt, dik-teyt]

verb (used with object)

dictated, dictating 

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)

dictated, dictating 

1. to say or read aloud something to be written down by a person or recorded by a machine.

2. to give orders.

noun

1. an authoritative order or command.

2. a guiding or governing principle, requirement, etc..

   to follow the dictates of one's conscience.

   Synonyms: bidding

dictate

verb

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

noun

1. an authoritative command

2. a guiding principle or rule

   the dictates of reason

Other Word Forms

• dictatingly adverb
• misdictated adjective
• predictate verb (used with object)
• redictate verb
• undictated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dictate¹

First recorded in 1585–95; from Latin dictātus “said repeatedly,” past participle of dictāre “to say repeatedly, order, prescribe,” from dīcere “to say, speak, tell”

Word History and Origins

Origin of dictate¹

C17: from Latin dictāre to say repeatedly, order, from dīcere to say

Example Sentences

“December quarter revenue is typically dictated by the strength of corporate travel in October and holiday travel around Thanksgiving and late December,” TD Cowen analyst Tom Fitzgerald wrote in a note Saturday.

Read more on Barron's

Daniel Skelly, head of Morgan Stanley’s wealth management market research & strategy team, thinks we haven’t seen the last of the current market reshuffle, but argues that quality will ultimately dictate its conclusion.

Read more on Barron's

Companies have little say in selecting these intermediaries; instead, brokers dictate the choice.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

They want to push the game on - it has worked and suits their batters - but can they rein it in when the situation or, as in this case, the conditions dictate?

Read more on BBC

Howell articulated his theory of the global liquidity cycle that he believes broadly dictates markets’ behavior.

Read more on MarketWatch

Related Words

• govern 
• guide 
• impose 
• lay down 
• prescribe