dictator etymology

Etymology:

  • Dictator derives from the Latin word "dictator," which means "one who gives orders."

Meaning and Origin:

In ancient Rome, a dictator was an extraordinary magistrate appointed by the Roman Senate in times of crisis or emergency. This appointment granted the dictator dictatorial powers over the state and the military for a period of six months.

The Roman Senate would appoint a dictator in situations where the regular government structure was deemed insufficient to handle a specific threat or challenge. The dictator was given the authority to make laws, raise armies, and dispense justice without the approval of the Senate.

The term "dictator" has since come to be applied to any ruler who wields absolute power, especially when such power is imposed by force or in violation of democratic principles. In modern usage, the term has negative connotations, implying a tyrannical or oppressive ruler.

dictator relate terms

  • dictatorial

    Etymology Dictate Latin dictare meaning to speak prescribe or order orial Su

  • dictator

    Etymology Dictator derives from the Latin word dictator which means one who gives o

  • dictatorship

    Etymology Latin dictatūra French dictature Meaning and Origin The term dictator

  • dictator

    Etymology Dictator derives from the Latin word dictator which means one who gives o

  • abdicate

    Etymology from Latin abdicare from ab from dicare proclaim ultimately from

  • abdication

    Etymology Old French abdication Late Latin abdicātiō Latin abdicāre to renounce

  • addict

    Etymology The word addict is derived from the Latin word addicere which means to a

  • adjudge

    Etymology Latin ad iudicare ad to towards iudicare to judge Meaning To pas

  • apodictic

    Etymology Greek apodeiktikos demonstrative certain apo away off deiktikos poi

  • avenge

    Etymology From Middle English avengen from Anglo Norman avenger from Vulgar Latin avin

  • benediction

  • betoken

    Etymology The word betoken comes from the Old English word betacnian which means to

  • condition

    Etymology Middle English condicioun from Old French condicion from Latin conditio

  • contradict

    Etymology Comes from the Latin word contradicere meaning to speak against Meanin

  • contradiction

    Etymology The word contradiction is derived from the Latin word contradictio which i

  • dedicate

    Etymology Dedicate derives from the Latin word dedĭcare meaning to set apart for a

  • deictic

    Etymology of Deictic The word deictic is derived from the Greek word deiktikos whi

  • deixis

    Etymology and Meaning of Deixis The term deixis comes from the Greek word deixis mea

  • dictate

    Etymology Latin dictare From dicere to say tare suffix indicating repet

  • diction

    Etymology From Middle English dictioun from Old French diccion modern diction ultim

  • dictionary

    Etymology The word dictionary is derived from the Latin word dictionarium which mean

  • dictum

    Etymology Latin dictum something said from the past participle of dicere to s

  • digit

    Etymology The word digit derives from the Latin digitus meaning finger or toe

  • disk

    Etymology Old French disque Latin discus Meaning A flat circular object typical

  • ditto

    Etymology The word ditto comes from the Italian phrase meaning said It was first us

  • ditty

    Etymology Old English ditee Middle English ditee dite From Proto Germanic dis mea

  • edict

    Etymology The word edict originates from the Latin word edictum which is the past part

  • Eurydice

    Etymology of Eurydice Greek Etymology Εὐρυδίκη Eurydike Derived from Gr

  • index

    Etymology The word index is derived from the Latin word index which means indicator

  • indicate

    Etymology is the study of the origin and history of words It looks at the development of

  • indication

  • indict

    Etymology From Middle French enditer from Old French enditier to compose from Lat

  • indiction

    Etymology Latin indictiō Greek ἐνδίκτιον endiktion indiction Meanin

  • indictive

    Etymology Indicative comes from the Latin word indicare meaning to reveal make kno

  • indite

    Etymology Indite comes from the Latin word indictare which means to show to make kno

  • interdict

    Etymology Latin interdictum Middle French interdire Old English interdician Meanin

  • judge

    Etymology Latin judex meaning judge Proto Indo European root dyeu or diu

  • judicial

    Etymology The word judicial comes from the Latin word iudicium which means judgmen

  • juridical

    Etymology The term juridical originates from the Latin word juridicus which means p

  • jurisdiction

    Etymology The word jurisdiction originates from Old French jurisdiccion which in tur

  • malediction

    Etymology From Middle English malediccioun borrowed from Old French malediction from

  • malison

    Etymology From the Latin name Malisonus meaning ill sounding Derived from the Latin

  • paradigm

    Etymology Greek paradigma παράδειγμα meaning example model or pat

  • policy

    Etymology The word policy originates from the Latin word polyptycha which means fol

  • preach

    Etymology Old English prēaċan from Proto Germanic prekōną from Proto Indo Eur

  • predicament

    Etymology Late Middle English from Old French prédicament from Late Latin praedicame

  • predicate

    Etymology The word predicate originates from the Latin word praedicare which means

  • predict

    Etymology Predict is derived from the Latin word praedicere which means to proclaim

  • prejudice

    Etymology Middle English prejudice n prejudicen v Late Latin praejudicium Lati

  • revenge

    Etymology The word revenge derives from the Old French word revanche which in turn

  • soi disant

    Etymology The French phrase soi disant is derived from the Latin phrase se dicere wh

  • syndic

    Etymology From Middle French syndic sindic from Latin syndicus from Ancient Greek σ

  • teach

    Etymology Definition The study of the origin development and meaning of words Origin

  • tetchy

    Etymology The word tetchy is derived from the Middle English word techy which means

  • theodicy

    Etymology Derived from Latin theodicea borrowed from Greek theodikeia Theo mean

  • token

    Etymology The word token originates from the Latin verb tangere meaning to touch

  • valediction

    Etymology Late Middle English from Latin valedictiō n from valedicere farewell e

  • vendetta

    Etymology Vendetta is derived from the Italian word vendetta which means revenge

  • verdict

    Etymology The word verdict originates from the Old French word verdit which itself c

  • veridical

    Etymology Latin veridicus meaning truthful true speaking From verus true di

  • vindicate

    Etymology From Latin vindicō meaning to claim as one s own to avenge to punish U

  • vindication

    Etymology Vindicate verb From the Latin vindicare meaning to claim demand avenge

  • potentate

    Etymology The word potentate comes from the Late Latin potentas meaning powerful

  • Caesar

    Etymology The name Caesar is derived from the Latin word caedere meaning to cut

  • dight

    Etymology Middle English dight from Old English dihtan meaning to prepare make re

  • speaker

    Etymology The word speaker derives from the Middle English word speken meaning to

  • martinet

    Etymology The word martinet comes from the French word Martin which in turn is a sh

  • autocrat

    Etymology Late Middle English from Old French autocrate from Late Latin autocratēs

  • carcass

    Etymology The word carcass comes from the Old French word carcasse which is derived

  • pardon

    Etymology The word pardon comes from the Old French word pardonner which itself come

  • euphemism

    Etymology Euphemism derives from the Greek words eu good and phemi speak Mean

  • lip service

    Etymology The term lipservice is derived from two words Lip The physical fleshy pa