| Title | dictator |
|---|---|
| Text |
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary dic·ta·tor ETYMOLOGY Latin, from dictare DATE 14th century 1. a. a person granted absolute emergency power; especially : one appointed by the senate of ancient Rome b. one holding complete autocratic control c. one ruling absolutely and often oppressively 2. one that dictates English Etymology dictator late 14c., from L. dictator, agent noun from dictare (see dictate). Transf. sense of "one who has absolute power or authority" in any sphere is from c.1600. In Latin use, a dictator was a judge in the Roman republic temporarily invested with absolute power. Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7 dictator dic·ta·tor / dik5teitE(r); NAmE 5dikteitEr / noun(disapproving) 1. a ruler who has complete power over a country, especially one who has gained it using military force 独裁者 2. a person who behaves as if they have complete power over other people, and tells them what to do 发号施令者；专横的人 Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Thesaurus-11th Edition n. Function: noun Synonyms: TYRANT , despot, duce, oppressor, strong manWebster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged dic·ta·tor \ˈdikˌtād.ə(r), -ātə- also ̷ ̷ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷\ noun (-s) Etymology: Latin, from dictatus + -or 1. a. : a chief magistrate appointed in emergencies and given absolute authority by the senate of ancient Rome b. : a person granted absolute emergency power in a later republic < making the general dictator of the state during the invasion > < when dictators resist the temptation to become despots — F.L.Schuman > c. : one enjoying complete autocratic control or leadership < the secretary was actually the dictator of the party > < making him dictator > often : a supreme sometimes autocratic arbiter < a dictator in the world of British art — DeLancey Ferguson > d. : one ruling absolutely, typically with brutality, oppression, and ruthless suppression of opposition < political dictators who attempt to accomplish by calculated brutality and aggression what they lack the intelligence and magnanimity to consummate — Lewis Mumford > 2. : one that dictates (as to a secretary or recording machine) |
Learn with these flashcards. Click next, previous, or up to navigate to more flashcards for this subject.
Next card: to dictate verb dictating to of dictated order
Previous card: Dictatorship dictator a a noun government power dictionary
Up to card list: English learning