Search the Dictionary

To tell or utter so that another may write down; to inspire; to compose; as, to dictate a letter to an amanuensis. The mind which dictated the Iliad. Wayland. Pages dictated by the Holy Spirit. Macaulay.

or propriety; obviously and fiatly opposed to manifest truth; inconsistent with the plain dictates of common sense; logically contradictory; nonsensical; ridiculous; as, an absurd person, an absurd opinion; an absurd dream. This proffer is absurd and reasonless. Shak. 'This phrase absurd to call a villain great. Pope.…

A person whose employment is to write what another dictates, or to copy what another has written.

Dictated by kindness; favorable; lenient. By a charitable construction it may be a sermon. L. Andrews.

Swift. -- To make conscience of, To make a matter of conscience, to act according to the dictates of conscience concerning (any matter), or to scruple to act contrary to its dictates.

Influenced by conscience; governed by a strict regard to the dictates of conscience, or by the known or supposed rules of right and wrong; -- said of a person. The advice of wise and conscientious men. Prescott.

The quality of being conscientious; a scrupulous regard to the dictates of conscience.

A dictation or dictate. [R.] Falkland.

The act of dictating; the act or practice of prescribing; also that which is dictated. It affords security against the dictation of laws. Paley.

One who dictates; one who prescribes rules and maxims authoritatively for the direction of others. Locke.

A woman who dictates or commands. Earth's chief dictatress, ocean's mighty queen. Byron.

Not dictated by passion; not proceeding from temper or bias; impartial; as, dispassionate proceedings; a dispassionate view.

The act of cursing; a curse dictated by violent feelings of hatred; imprecation; utter detestation expressed. Cease, gentle, queen, these execrations. Shak.

person deficient in intellect; one who acts absurdly, or pursues a course contrary to the dictates of wisdom; one without judgment; a simpleton; a dolt. Extol not riches, then, the toil of fools. Milton. Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other. Franklin.

been described by Hippocrates. Dunglison. -- Hippocratic oath, an oath said to have been dictated by Hippocrates to his disciples. Such an oath is still administered to candidates for graduation in medicine.

Dictated by, or indicating, ill nature; spiteful. "The ill-natured task refuse." Addison.

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.

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.