Question

For the word below, click on the drop-down arrows to select the root and its meaning.

dictator

root:

meaning:

Answer 1

The root of 'dictator' is 'dict', which means to speak or to say. This term relates to an individual who has absolute authority in a dictatorship, often rising to power through economic or military strength.

Step-by-step explanation:

The root of the word dictator is 'dict', which has Latin origins. In Latin, the root 'dict' means to speak or to say. The term dictator originally referred to a Roman Republican office with absolute authority over the state for a limited time during emergencies. In modern usage, a dictator is the ruler in a dictatorship, which is a form of government where a single person or a very small group has complete and absolute power over a government and its population.

Characteristically, dictators rise to power through means such as economic or military might and often use tactics of intimidation and brutality to maintain their authority. Their governments can be compared to absolute monarchies, although a dictatorship is not limited by inheritance and can arise from different circumstances, including military coups or consolidation of power.

Answer 2

Root: dict or dic

Definition: A ruler with total power over a country, typically one who has obtained control by force.