dictation
UK: dɪkˈteɪʃən | US: dɪkˈteɪʃən
n. the act of speaking or reading aloud for someone to write down
n. the text produced by dictating
n. an authoritative command or order
The word "dictation" traces back to Latin dictatio, derived from dictare ("to dictate, proclaim"). The root dict- reflects the core idea of speaking or commanding, while -ation transforms the verb into a noun denoting the process or result. Historically, dictation was central to administrative and literary practices, evolving from oral commands to modern contexts like transcription exercises.
The secretary took dictation during the meeting.
Students practiced French dictation to improve their listening skills.
His notes were a hurried dictation of the professor’s lecture.
The manager’s dictation left no room for negotiation.
Ancient scribes relied on dictation to record legal decrees.