diktirati

Diktirati is a verb in several Slavic languages, including Russian and Serbian, meaning to dictate or to set forth authoritatively. In the context of language, it refers to the act of speaking words for someone else to write down or to record. This can be done for various purposes, such as taking notes during a lecture, transcribing a speech, or creating a written document from spoken thoughts. The person dictating controls the flow of information, and the person transcribing is responsible for accurately capturing what is said.

The term diktirati can also extend beyond literal speech. It can imply exerting influence or control over something, essentially setting a standard or a rule that others must follow. For example, one might say that a powerful nation diktirati its foreign policy terms to smaller countries, meaning they are imposing their will. This broader sense emphasizes the power dynamic and the imposition of one's will or ideas upon others. The etymology of the word generally traces back to the Latin "dictare," meaning to say, repeat, or dictate.