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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Dictate \Dic"tate\, n. [L. dictatum. See {Dictate}, v. t.]
A statement delivered with authority; an order; a command; an
authoritative rule, principle, or maxim; a prescription; as,
listen to the dictates of your conscience; the dictates of
the gospel.
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I credit what the Grecian dictates say. --Prior.

Syn: Command; injunction; direction suggestion; impulse;
admonition.
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Dictate \Dic"tate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Dictated}; p. pr. & vb.
n. {Dictating}.] [L. dictatus, p. p. of dictare, freq. of
dicere to say. See {Diction}, and cf. {Dight}.]
1. To tell or utter so that another may write down; to
inspire; to compose; as, to dictate a letter to an
amanuensis.
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The mind which dictated the Iliad. --Wayland.
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Pages dictated by the Holy Spirit. --Macaulay.
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2. To say; to utter; to communicate authoritatively; to
deliver (a command) to a subordinate; to declare with
authority; to impose; as, to dictate the terms of a
treaty; a general dictates orders to his troops.
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Whatsoever is dictated to us by God must be
believed. --Watts.

Syn: To suggest; prescribe; enjoin; command; point out; urge;
admonish.
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Dictate \Dic"tate\, v. i.
1. To speak as a superior; to command; to impose conditions
(on).
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Who presumed to dictate to the sovereign.
--Macaulay.
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2. To compose literary works; to tell what shall be written
or said by another.
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Sylla could not skill of letters, and therefore knew
not how to dictate. --Bacon.
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