Meaning

noun a speaker who dictates to a secretary or a recording machine

noun a ruler who is unconstrained by law

noun a person who behaves in a tyrannical manner

originFrom Latin dictātor (“a chief magistrate”), from dictō (“dictate, prescribe”), from dīcō (“say, speak”). By surface analysis, dictate + -or, literally “one who dictates”. Compare Old English tictator (“absolute ruler of the Roman Republic”).

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0