Dicter (en. Dictate)
/diktɛ/
Meaning & Definition
EnglishFrench
verb
Saying a text out loud for another person to reproduce it.
The teacher dictates the text to the students.
Le professeur dicte le texte aux élèves.
To impose an opinion or a decision authoritatively.
The company dictates the rules of the project.
L'entreprise dicte les règles du projet.
To record a voice to create a written document.
She dictates her autobiography to write it later.
Elle dicte son autobiographie pour l'écrire plus tard.
Etymology
From the Latin 'dictare', which means 'to say often'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
dictate one's terms
Imposing one's demands on another party.
dicter ses conditions
dictate a text
To have someone else write a text.
dicter un texte
dictate the future
To influence or decide on future fate or choices.
dicter l'avenir
Related Words
dictation
An exercise consisting of writing what is dictated.
dictée
diction
The art of pronouncing and articulating words well.
diction
dictionary
A book that contains the definitions of words in a language.
dictionnaire
Slang Meanings
To demand something emphatically.
He thinks of himself as a king and dictates what should be done.
Il se prend pour un roi et dicte ce qu'on doit faire.
To impose an idea without discussion.
In this group, he is the one who always dictates the rules.
Dans ce groupe, c'est lui qui dicte toujours les règles.