dictator

Meaning

Noun

• A totalitarian leader of a country, nation, or government.
• A magistrate without colleague in republican Ancient Rome, who held full executive authority for a term granted by the senate (legislature), typically to conduct a war.
• A tyrannical boss or authority figure.
• A person who dictates text (e.g. letters to a clerk).

Origin

• From Latin dictātor, from dictō, from dīcō.
• Surface analysis is dictate + -or “one who dictates”.