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. International Women:

    I'm very upset with the state of affairs right now, i always try to be optimistic. I think that freedom will prevail. And I don't dictate who buys my clothing in a store.

  2. Anthon St Maarten:

    Nobody has the power to imprison your mind, dictate your emotions, or enslave your soul - unless you let them.

  3. Lindsey Graham:

    I find Judge Jackson to be a person of exceptionally good character, respected by her peers, and someone who has worked hard to achieve her current position, however, her record is overwhelming in its lack of a steady judicial philosophy and a tendency to achieve outcomes in spite of what the law requires or common sense would dictate.

  4. Tracey Lomax:

    I was not going to let him dictate how I was going to spend the rest of my life, once he left this earth, that was it. Everything that he did, hey – you take that with you. Because I’m not going to keep going back and forth with it. I’m gonna stay right here, and I’m gonna always celebrate my sister.

  5. Sigmund Freud:

    Words have a magical power. They can bring either the greatest happiness or deepest despair; they can transfer knowledge from teacher to student; words enable the orator to sway his audience and dictate its decisions. Words are capable of arousing the strongest emotions and prompting all men's actions.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

dictate#10000#20832#100000

Translations for dictate

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"dictate." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 5 May 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/dictate>.

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