This is the 4911th most frequent Spanish word.
dictado
Dictation.
In this sentence, 'dictado' refers to the traditional activity in language learning where someone reads a text aloud for others to write down, practicing listening and writing skills.
El maestro nos pidió realizar un ejercicio de dictado.
The teacher asked us to do a dictation exercise.
Here, 'dictado' is used metaphorically to mean something spoken or imposed as if by an authoritative source, stressing the sense of hierarchy.
Su discurso parecía el dictado de una autoridad superior.
His speech seemed like the decree of a higher authority.
In this sentence, 'dictado' again refers to the written result of the activity of listening and transcribing; it emphasizes the act of reviewing the work.