dictate
/ˈdɪkˌteɪt/ verb C2- To order, command, control. · Etiquette dictates that wedding invitations should be acknowledged in writing.
- To speak in order for someone to write down the words. · She is dictating a letter to a stenographer.· The French teacher dictated a passage from Victor Hugo.
- To determine or decisively affect. · We issue replacements as necessity dictates.
He/she/it dictates · Past dictated · Past participle dictated · -ing form dictating
Verb forms
- Base form
- dictate
- He/she/it
- dictates
- Past
- dictated
- Past participle
- dictated
- -ing form
- dictating
From the library
I hope the world will not call me cowardly for acting as my conscience dictated.
“‘The president again arose, and having imposed silence, said,—“Sir, you are too serious and too sensible a man not to understand the consequences of our present situation, and your candor has already dictated to us the conditions which remain for us to offer you.” The general, putting his hand on his sword, exclaimed,—“If you talk of honor, do not begin by disavowing its laws, and impose nothing by violence.”
“No, no, I will be on the ground at the proper time; but in my opinion (and I have a right to dictate the preliminaries, as it is I who have received the provocation)—in my opinion the time ought not to be yet.
“I’ll dictate it, if you like.
Other matches
Learn dictate in real texts
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