n.
Pronunciation: ' dik- ˌ t ā t, dik- '
Function: verb
Inflected Form: 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 : PRESCRIBE
transitive 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>