dictate

dictate
dic|tate1 [dıkˈteıt US ˈdıkteıt] v
[Date: 1500-1600; : Latin; Origin: dictare 'to say often, say firmly', from dicere 'to say']
1.) [I and T]
to say words for someone else to write down
dictate a letter/memo etc to sb
She's dictating a letter to her secretary right now.
2.) [I and T]
to tell someone exactly what they must do or how they must behave
dictate to
The media cannot be allowed to dictate to the government.
dictate who/what/how etc
Can they dictate how the money will be spent?
Federal funds have to be used as dictated by Washington.
dictate that
Islamic custom dictates that women should be fully covered.
The US government attempted to dictate the terms of the agreement.
3.) [T]
to control or influence something
= ↑determine dictate what/how etc
Funds dictate what we can do.
dictate that
The laws of physics dictate that what goes up must come down.
The massive publicity dictated a response from the city government.
dictate 2
dic|tate2 [ˈdıkteıt] n
an order, rule, or principle that you have to obey
dictate of
teenagers following the dictates of fashion

Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.

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Synonyms:
, , , , , , , , , , , / (so that another may repeat or write), , ,


Look at other dictionaries:

  • 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 — Dic tate, v. i. 1. To speak as a superior; to command; to impose conditions (on). [1913 Webster] 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.… …   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

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