Main Entry: ¹dic·tate

Pronunciation: \ˈdik-ˌtāt, dik-ˈ\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): dic·tat·ed; dic·tat·ing

Etymology: Latin dictatus, past participle of dictare to assert, dictate, frequentative of dicere to say — more at diction

Date: 1581

intransitive verb 1 : to give dictation
2 : to speak or act domineeringly : prescribetransitive verb 1 : to speak or read for a person to transcribe or for a machine to record
2 a : to issue as an order b : to impose, pronounce, or specify authoritatively c : to require or determine necessarily <injuries dictated the choice of players>