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dictate

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Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionarydic·tate I \ˈdik-ˌtāt, dik-ˈ\ verb (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 1581intransitive verb1. to give dictation2. to speak or act domineeringly : prescribetransitive verb1. to speak or read for a person to transcribe or for a machine to record2. 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 II \ˈdik-ˌtāt\ noun DATE 15941. a. an authoritative rule, prescription, or injunction b. a ruling principle according to the dictates of your conscience2. a command by one in authorityEnglish Etymologydictate dictate (v.) 1590s, "to practice dictation," from L. dictatus, pp. of dictare "say often, prescribe," frequentative of dicere "tell, say" (see diction). Sense of "command" is 1620s. The noun is from 1590s. Related: Dictated; dictates; dictating.Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7dictatedic·tate verb/ dik5teit; NAmE 5dikteit / 1. ~ (sth) (to sb) to say words for sb else to write down 口述: ▪ [VN] He dictated a letter to his secretary. 他向秘书口授信稿。 ▪ [also V] 2. ~ (sth) (to sb) to tell sb what to do, especially in an annoying way (尤指以令人不快的方式)指使,强行规定: ▪ [VN] They are in no position to dictate terms (= tell other people what to do). 他们没有资格发号施令。 ▪ [V wh-] What right do they have to dictate how we live our lives? 他们有什么权利强行规定我们该怎样生活？ ▪ [also V that] 3. to control or influence how sth happens 支配；摆布；决定 SYN determine : ▪ [VN] When we take our vacations is very much dictated by Greg's work schedule. 我们什么时候休假在很大程度上取决于格雷格的工作计划。 ▪ [V wh-] It's generally your job that dictates where you live now. 一般说来,你住在什么地方是由你的工作决定的。 ▪ [also V also V that] PHRASAL VERBS ▪ dic'tate to sb [often passive] to give orders to sb, often in a rude or aggressive way 任意指使某人；向某人发号施令: She refused to be dictated to by anyone. 她不愿受任何人摆布。 noun/ 5dikteit / [usually pl.] (formal) an order or a rule that you must obey 命令；规定: to follow the dictates of fashion 赶时髦 Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Thesaurus-11th Editionn. Function: verb to promulgate expressly something to be followed, observed, obeyed, or accepted FF1C;the commission dictated the policies to be followedFF1E; Synonyms: decree, impose, lay down, ordain, prescribe, set Related Words: control, direct, manage; guide, lead; govern, rule; say, tell, utter; bid, charge, command, enjoin, instruct, ordern. Function: noun Synonyms: COMMAND 1, behest, bidding, charge, injunction, mandate, order, wordWebster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridgeddic·tateI. \ˈdikˌtāt also ̷ ̷ˈ ̷ ̷; usu -ād.+V\ verb(-ed/-ing/-s)Etymology: Latin dictatus, past participle of dictare to pronounce, assert, dictate, freq. of dicere to say — more at dictionintransitive verb1. : to speak, recite, or read off for a person to write down or transcribe or for a machine to record for later transcription < dictating too fast for the secretary to transcribe > < dictating into the machine >2. : to speak or act commandingly or domineeringly, imposing orders, injunctions, and terms authoritatively or autocratically < a stern father and husband always dictating to his family >: prescribe, command < to act spontaneously as the heart dictates — Bertrand Russell > < as the situation dictates >transitive verb1. : to speak, recite, or read off (something) for a person to write down or transcribe or for a machine to record < dictating a letter to the secretary > < dictating test questions to a class > < dictating a statement to the reporters >sometimes : to compose while speaking2. a. : to issue as an order usually peremptorily < the duke dictating what part each should take > b. : to command or impose authoritatively : prescribe, enjoin :direct forcefully or irresistibly < dictating peace terms to the vanquished > c. : to require or determine necessarily < the weight of the floor dictates use of heavy supports > < an arrangement dictated by the situation > d. : to bring into being, form, determine, or influence commandingly < patroness who has set herself up to dictate public taste — Lillian de la Torre > e. : to designate authoritatively, overriding possible opposition < a president strong enough to dictate his successor >Synonyms: prescribe, ordain, decree, impose: dictate implies an authoritative direction, usually peremptory, or intended as not to be questioned < groups trying to dictate who shall and who shall not be retained on the faculties of the colleges and universities of the nation — W.T.Gossett > < he continued … to dictate the lives of the parishioners — Willa Cather > < the avarice which dictated every detail of their lives — Marcia Davenport > prescribe implies a formulated rule, law, or order and an authoritative pronouncement < my teachers should have prescribed to me, 1st, sincerity; 2d, sincerity; 3d, sincerity — H.D.Thoreau > < the terms prescribed by law — John Marshall > < driven to describe paths round the sun by exactly the same forces as prescribed the orderly motions of the planets — James Jeans > ordain implies enactment or institution by a supreme and unquestioned authority or power, usually suggesting the authoritatively definitive settlement of a question < in this same period Parliament … ordained that everyone who died should be buried in English cloth — G.M.Trevelyan > < nature inexorably ordains that the human race shall perish of famine if it stops working — G.B.Shaw > < a code of rigid and inflexible rules, arbitrarily ordained, and to be blindly obeyed — Havelock Ellis > decree implies a pronouncement by a governmental authority, a divine power, or an authoritative force < complainant must so state his case that … court can decree upon it — Detroit Law Journal > < Apollo decreed that nobody should believe her, although she spoke the truth — Maxwell Nurnberg & Morris Rosenblum > < blue eyes which his parents' chromosomes decreed for him — Ralph de Toledano > impose implies a subjecting to what must be borne, endured, or submitted to, or a dictatorial forcing of something upon someone or a compelling prescription of something < to impose impossible taxes on a poverty-stricken people > < to impose limitations on hours of work — American Guide Series: New Hampshire > < we are willing therefore to believe that destiny is imposed upon us — Archibald MacLeish >II. \ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ sometimes ̷ ̷ˈ ̷ ̷\ noun(-s)Etymology: Latin dictatum, from neuter of dictatus1. a. : an authoritative rule : a prescription or injunction authoritatively pronounced (as in scripture or law) : a directive given cogency by conscience, reason, virtue, or other ruling principle < the dictates of good taste > < dictates of common sense > b. : a command by one in authority < the ruler's dictates >2. archaic : material uttered for another's transcription3. obsolete : dictum, maxim, precept4. : diktat

To Dictate Verb Dictating To Of Dictated Order