Search the Dictionary

To write; to compose; to dictate; to indite. [Obs.]

To compose; to write; to be author of; to dictate; to prompt. My heart is inditing a good matter. Ps. xlv. 1. Could a common grief have indited such expressions South. Hear how learned Greece her useful rules indites. Pope.

2. (a) An unusually large success in an enterprise, either unexpected or unpredictable, esp. one providing a great financial benefit. hit the jackpotto receive an unexpectedly large (or the largest possible) benefit from an enterprise.

tending to expose another to public hatred, contempt, or ridicule. Such publication is indictable at common law.

having the manner of a magister; official; commanding; authoritative. Hence: Overbearing; dictatorial; dogmatic. When magisterial duties from his home Her father called. Glover. We are not magisterial in opinions, nor, dictator-like, obtrude our notions on any man. Sir T. Browne. Pretenses go a great way with men that…

Dictated by or exhibiting nobleness of soul; honorable; noble; not selfish. Both strived for death; magnanimous debate. Stirling. There is an indissoluble union between a magnanimous policy and the solid rewards of public prosperity and felicity. Washington.

Proceeding from hatred or ill will; dictated by malice; as, a malicious report; malicious mischief.

ed by passion. -- To be one's own master, to be at liberty to act as one chooses without dictation from anybody.

Aggressively haughty; arrogant; domineering; tyrannical; dictatorial; insolent. --O`ver*bear"ing*ly, adv. -- O`ver*bear"ing*ness, n.

A chief leader or a king; a head; a dictator; -- a title assumed by the ancient British chiefs when called to lead other chiefs. The dread Pendragon, Britain's king of kings. Tennyson.

Positive in opinion or judgment; decided; dictatorial; dogmatical. Be not too positive and peremptory. Bacon. Briefly, then, for we are peremptory. Shak.

What the will dictates or prefers as gratifying or satisfying; hence, will; choice; wish; purpose. "He will do his pleasure on Babylon." Isa. xlviii. 14. Use your pleasure; if your love do not presuade you to come, let not my letter. Shak.

oritatively as a guide, direction, or rule of action; to impose as a peremptory order; to dictate; to appoint; to direct. Prescribe not us our duties. Shak. Let streams prescribe their fountains where to run. Dryden.

The act of prescribing, directing, or dictating; direction; precept; also, that which is prescribed.

To suggest; to dictate. And whispering angles prompt her golden dreams. Pope.

ally wise; judicious; careful; discreet; sensible; -- opposed to rash; as, a prudent man; dictated or directed by prudence or wise forethought; evincing prudence; as, prudent behavior. Moses established a grave and prudent law. Milton.

Proceeding from, or dictated or characterized by, prudence; prudent; discreet; sometimes, selfish or pecuniary as distinguished from higher motives or influences; as, prudential motives. " A prudential line of conduct." Sir W. Scott.

Dictated by a regard to public good; as, a public-spirited project or measure. Addison. -- Pub"lic-spir`it*ed*ly, adv. -- Pub"lic-spir`it*ed*ness, n.

ight intellectual judgment; clear and fair deductions from true principles; that which is dictated or supported by the common sense of mankind; right conduct; right; propriety; justice. I was promised, on a time, To have reason for my rhyme. Spenser. But law in a free nation hath been ever public reason; the enacted re…

g under influence of reason; thinking, speaking or acting rationally, or according to the dictates of reason; agreeable to reason; just; rational; as, the measure must satisfy all reasonable men. By indubitable certainty, I mean that which doth not admit of any reasonable cause of doubting. Bp. Wilkins. Men have no rig…