31AUG09

diktat:

1. a harsh, punitive settlement or decree imposed unilaterally on a defeated nation, political party, etc.
2. any decree or authoritative statement

how to use in casual conversation:
"much to the chagrin of progressives, obama has yet to lay his massive legislative diktat down on congressional republicans"
"i've had just about enough of your diktats"
"can i show you my diktat?"

not to be confused with:

i don't think you can confuse this with anything else. a diktat's a diktat. but i guess didact is pretty close.

how i feel about it:

i feel good, really good actually. this is a seriously great word that fulfills all the desired dimensions of a spectacular WOTD:

1. it's short and sharp. much like a good high-five it stings a little bit, at least in the phonetic sense.
2. it's fairly esoteric. i feel like i've heard a word or two in my day and this one is new to me.
3. it would be amazing if someone pulled out diktat during a scrabble game.
4. i don't need to explain the fourth reason as i have illustrated it all over this post.

this word can be used in both a serious, 'sticking it to the man' setting (i.e. "this law is nothing more that a series of diktats issued by a kleptocray bend on keeping us all as wage slaves...yada yada yada") or it could be used to make people laugh when they've been smoking the cheeb (i.e. "i am hearby issuing a diktat that you will surrender your cookies to me immediately"). this word has potential and moxie.