It's the silent c. Why does it even have a silent c? Or, for that matter, a long i? Dictator is pronounced as I'd expect, as is predict, all those other words from dicere. I always want to pronounce the c, and half the time my tongue moves into /k/ position, but I don't think I ever realize it, I just sorta stutter a bit.
But then, it's not a word that comes up often for most of us, is it?
It certainly has come up today, and for a minute I can believe everything is coming up roses. Mirabile dictu!
But then, it's not a word that comes up often for most of us, is it?
It certainly has come up today, and for a minute I can believe everything is coming up roses. Mirabile dictu!