UNIT 7 SPELLING dict- = speak

contradict  Verb  To speak against; to say the opposite (not polite to do this to parents)  He will contradict what I say by saying the opposite.

dictation  Noun  What is written down as someone says it (secretary)  The secretary took dictation and wrote down exactly what her boss said.

dictator  noun  A leader who speaks and rules with total power (rule by force)  The dictator had total power over the country.

diction  noun  The manner in which something is expressed in words (written or spoken) – people have an accent  The student had good diction because he expressed himself well when he spoke.

dictionary  Noun  A reference book in which spoken or written words are defined (meanings)  We had to use a dictionary to determine how to pronounce a word.

dictum  noun  A judge’s ruling or statement  The dictum the judge handed down was his ruling.

edict  noun  Public words issued (announced) by an official that explain a law or command  The official issued an edict that explained the new law.

indictment  noun  Formal words spoken or written by a jury that charge a person with a crime (result is a criminal trial)  The jury handed the person an indictment and charged him with a crime.

predict  verb  To say what will happen before it occurs (what people expect)  I will predict that he will get hurt on the snowmobile because of his reckless driving.

verdict  noun  The decision a jury makes in a trial; the decision said by the jury  The jury made a verdict, or decision, of guilty in the trial.