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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Dictate

Dic'tāte, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [imp. & p. p. DICTATED; p. pr. & vb. n. DICTATING.] [Lat. dictare, dictatum, v. freq. of dicere, to say; Pr. & Sp. dictar, Fr. dicter, It. dittare, dettare.]

Sense 1. To deliver or state for another person to reduce to writing; to utter so that another may write down. “The mind which dictated the Iliad.” Wayland.

Sense 2. To communicate with authority; to deliver to a subordinate, as a command; to prescribe; as, a general dictates orders to his troops.

Synonyms—To suggest; prescribe; point out; urge; admonish.

Dic'tate, n.

noun

n. [Lat. dictatum, Pr. dictat, Sp. & Pg. dictado, It. dittato, dettato, O. Fr. dicté, ditié. See supra.] A statement delivered with authority; an order; a command; an authoritative rule or principle; a prescription; a direction. I credit what the Grecian dictates say. Prior. Syn.—Command; injunction; suggestion; impulse; admonition.