— dictatingly , adv.
v. /dik"tayt, dik tayt"/ ; n. /dik"tayt/ , v. , dictated, dictating , n.
v.t.
1. to say or read (something) aloud for another person to transcribe or for a machine to record: to dictate some letters to a secretary.
2. to prescribe or lay down authoritatively or peremptorily; command unconditionally: to dictate peace terms to a conquered enemy.
v.i.
3. to say or read aloud something to be written down by a person or recorded by a machine.
4. to give orders.
n.
5. an authoritative order or command.
6. a guiding or governing principle, requirement, etc.: to follow the dictates of one's conscience.
[ 1585-95; dictatus, ptp. of dictare to say repeatedly, prescribe, order, freq. of dicere to say ]
Syn. 6. bidding, urging, prompting.