DICTATE

I. verb (~d; dictating) see: diction Date: 1581 intransitive verb to give dictation, to speak or act domineeringly ; prescribe , transitive verb to speak or read for a person to transcribe or for a machine to record, 2. to issue as an order, to impose, pronounce, or specify authoritatively, to require or determine necessarily , II. noun Date: 1594 1. an authoritative rule, prescription, or injunction, a ruling principle , a command by one in authority