dominance

Forms

dominance f (plural dominances)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French dominant + -ance, from the stem of the present participle of dominer.^[2][3][4][5] The verb is from Latin dominor (“to rule”).^[6][7] The Petit Robert derives it directly from the verb, Wiktionnaire from the participle.^[8][9]

The TLFi and the DHLF date the first record to 1467; the Grand Robert and the GLLF give the 16th century.^[2][5][4][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

A document of 1467 on the usages of the forest of Brécilien uses it for a lord's domain or fief.^[2][5][6]

Semantic evolution

The sense “fief” died out.^[5] The general sense, the fact of dominating or prevailing, was rare before the late 18th century, where the TLFi finds it in Cabanis.^[2][5] Pushed aside by prédominance and domination, it survived mainly in the sciences, especially genetics, for the prevalence of a dominant gene or character over its recessive allele.^[5][8] It is also used in ethology for an animal's rank over others in a group,^[10][9] in economics for an unequal relation of dependence,^[11] and for the prevailing colour or tone in a picture.^[11][10][3]

Timeline

• 1467 – First record, for a domain or fief.^[2][5]
• 16th century – The Grand Robert and the GLLF date the word to this century.^[4][3]
• late 18th century – Cabanis uses it in the sense “fact of dominating”.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. The fact of dominating or exercising a prevailing influence; prédominance.^[10][2][8]
2. The fact of prevailing within a whole: la dominance du bleu dans cette toile.^[11][10]
3. (ethology) The rank of an animal that exercises authority over the others of its group.^[10][9]
4. (genetics) The prevalence of a dominant gène or character over its recessive allele.^[8][12][10]
5. (economics) An unequal relation between economic agents, in which one depends on the other.^[11]

Related words

• dominer
• dominant
• domination
• prédominance
• Latin dominor

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
4. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d e f g Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b Dictionnaire du Moyen Français, version 2015 (DMF 2015), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/dmf
7. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 3, 127b
8. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ a b c Wiktionnaire (French Wiktionary), fr.wiktionary.org
10. ^ a b c d e f Académie française (1992–2024), Dictionnaire de l'Académie française, 9th ed., Paris: Académie française / Fayard / Imprimerie nationale
11. ^ a b c d Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
12. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)