1590s, "to practice dictation, say aloud for another to write down," from Latin dictatus, past participle of dictare "say often, prescribe," frequentative of dicere "tell, say" (see diction). Sense of "to command" is 1620s. Related: Dictated; dictates; dictating.
dictate (n.)
1590s, from Latin dictatum "something dictated," noun use of neuter past participle of dictare (see dictate (v.)).
雙語例句
1. He cannot be allowed to dictate what can and cannot be inspected.
什么能檢查，什么不能檢查不能由他說了算。
來自柯林斯例句
2. What right has one country to dictate the environmental standards of another?