DICTATOR

authoritarian, dictator

(noun) a person who behaves in a tyrannical manner; “my boss is a dictator who makes everyone work overtime”

dictator, potentate

(noun) a ruler who is unconstrained by law

dictator

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

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

dictator (plural dictators)

A totalitarian leader of a country, nation, or government.

(historical) 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).

Source: Wiktionary

Dic*ta"tor, n. Etym: [L.]

1. One who dictates; one who prescribes rules and maxims authoritatively for the direction of others. Locke.

2. One invested with absolute authority; especially, a magistrate created in times of exigence and distress, and invested with unlimited power. Invested with the authority of a dictator, nay, of a pope, over our language. Macaulay.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition