The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition.
"diktat
SYLLABICATION:dik·tat
PRONUNCIATION: dk-tät
NOUN: 1. A harsh, unilaterally imposed settlement with a defeated party. 2. An authoritative or dogmatic statement or decree.
ETYMOLOGY: German, from Latin dicttum, from neuter past participle of dictre, to dictate."
http://www.bartleby.com/61/29/D0222900.html"dictate
SYLLABICATION:dic·tate
PRONUNCIATION: dktt, dk-tt
VERB:...
NOUN:(dktt)1. A directive; a command. 2. A guiding principle: followed the dictates of my conscience.
ETYMOLOGY:Latin dictre, dictt-, frequentative of dcere, to say. "
http://www.bartleby.com/61/82/D0208200.htmlOUP:
"diktat /dIktt; NAmE dIktt/ noun [C, U] (disapproving) an order given by a government, for example, that people must obey: an EU diktat from Brussels government by diktat"
http://www.oup.com/oald-bin/web_getald7index1a.pl"dictate verb, noun
verb /dIkteIt; NAmE dIkteIt/
...
noun /dIkteIt/ [usually pl.] (formal) an order or a rule that you must obey: to follow the dictates of fashion"
http://www.oup.com/oald-bin/web_getald7index1a.plCALD:
"diktat Show phonetics
noun [C or U] DISAPPROVING
an order which must be obeyed, or when you give such an order:
The coach issued a diktat that all team members must attend early-morning practice.
The occupying force ruled by diktat."
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?ke..."dictate Show phonetics
noun [C usually plural] FORMAL
an order which should be obeyed, often one which you give to yourself:
the dictates of conscience/common sense
Compare diktat."
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?ke...Encarta:
"diktat
dik·tat (plural dik·tats)
noun
Definitions:
1. dictatorial statement: a statement or order that cannot be opposed
2. harsh imposed settlement: a harsh settlement imposed on a defeated opponent or enemy
[Mid-20th century. Via German < Latin dictatum < past participle of dictare (see dictate)]"
http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictio...dictate
noun (plural dic·tates)
Definitions:
1. command given: an order telling people what they must do
dictates received from their superiors
2. governing principle: a rule or principle that governs how people behave
the dictates of fashion
[Late 16th century. < Latin dictat-, past participle of dictare "say often" < dicere "to say"]
http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_/dictate.htmlChambers:
diktat noun 1 a forceful, sometimes unreasonable, order which must be obeyed. 2 a harsh settlement forced on the defeated or powerless.
ETYMOLOGY: 1930s: German, meaning 'something dictated'.
http://www.chambersharrap.co.uk/chambers/chre...dictate verb (dictated, dictating) ... noun (usually dictates) 1 an order or instruction. 2 a guiding principle. dictatory adj.
ETYMOLOGY: 16c: from Latin dictare.
http://www.chambersharrap.co.uk/chambers/chre...
