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.
I
credit what the Grecian dictates say.
Prior. Syn. --
Command; injunction;
direction suggestion; impulse; admonition.
Dic"tate , v. i. 1. To
speak as a superior; to command; to impose conditions (on).
Who presumed to
dictate to the sovereign.
Macaulay. 2. To compose literary works; to tell what
shall be written or said by another.
Sylla could not skill of letters, and therefore knew not how
to dictate.
Bacon.
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 dictate a letter to an
amanuensis.
The mind which dictated the Iliad.
Wayland.
Pages dictated by the Holy Spirit.
Macaulay.
2. 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.
Whatsoever is dictated
to us by God must be
believed.
Watts. Syn. -- To suggest; prescribe; enjoin; command; point out; urge; admonish.
Hear it pronounced