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1. Issue commands or orders for
   - order, prescribe
    
2. Say out loud for the purpose of recording
   "He dictated a report to his secretary"
    
3. Rule as a dictator

1. An authoritative rule
    
2. A guiding principle
   "the dictates of reason"

Derived forms: dictating, dictated, dictates

Type of: bring down, govern, impose, inflict, obtrude, prescript, principle, read, rule, visit

Encyclopedia: Dictate