The difference

Is there a difference between a government and a dictator? Function: verb Etymology: Middle English, from Old French governer, from Latin gubernare to steer, govern, from Greek kybernan Date: 14th century transitive senses 1 a : to exercise continuous sovereign authority over; especially : to control and direct the making and administration of policy in b : to rule without sovereign power and usually without having the authority to determine basic policy 2 a : archaic : MANIPULATE b : to control the speed of (as a machine) especially by automatic means 3 a : to control, direct, or strongly influence the actions and conduct of b : to exert a determining or guiding influence in or over <income must govern expenditure> c : to hold in check : RESTRAIN 4 : to require (a word) to be in a certain case 5 : to serve as a precedent or deciding principle for <customs that govern human decisions> intransitive senses 1 : to prevail or have decisive influence : CONTROL 2 : to exercise authority - gov·ern·able /adjective Main Entry: [2]dic·tate Pronunciation: 'dik-"tAt Function: noun Date: 1594 1 a : an authoritative rule, prescription, or injunction b : a ruling principle <according to the dictates of your conscience> 2 : a command by one in authority Main Entry: [1]dic·tate Pronunciation: 'dik-"tAt, dik-' Function: verb Inflected Form(s): dic·tat·ed; dic·tat·ing Etymology: Latin dictatus, past participle of dictare to assert, dictate, frequentative of dicere to say —more at DICTION Date: 1592 intransitive senses 1 : to give dictation 2 : to speak or act domineeringly : PRESCRIBE transitive senses 1 : to speak or read for a person to transcribe or for a machine to record 2 a : to issue as an order b : to impose, pronounce, or specify authoritatively c : to require or determine necessarily <injuries dictated the choice of players>