This is the 8411th most frequent Catalan word.
dictant
Dictating.
In this sentence, 'dictant' is used as a gerund form of the verb 'dictar', describing the action of saying something aloud for others to write down.
El professor estava dictant notes als alumnes.
The teacher was dictating notes to the students.
Here, 'dictant' refers again to the action of speaking something for transcription, emphasizing the process undertaken by the subject.
Estava dictant les seves memòries a un ajudant.
He was dictating his memoirs to an assistant.
In this context, 'dictant' is used metaphorically to describe a machine conveying information in a directed manner.