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dominicus

Etymology and origin of the Latin word dominicus

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Afranius
Ultimate origin
Latin (dominus)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [dɔˈmɪ.nɪ.kʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [doˈmiː.ni.kus][1]

Forms

dominicus (feminine dominica, neuter dominicum); first/second-declension adjective[1] Inscriptions have domn-.[2]

Etymology

It is from dominus “master, lord” with the suffix -icus.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Afranius, of the second half of the 2nd century BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant belonging to a master or owner, and in Suetonius belonging to the emperor.[2]

In Christian Latin it meant belonging to the Lord, divine, and diēs dominicus was Sunday, named, as Isidore says, because on it the joy of the Lord's resurrection is celebrated.[5][6] Medieval Latin also used it for royal, papal and seigneurial, and for land held in the lord's own hand, the demesne.[7] British Medieval Latin used it of a lord's demesne and its buildings and chattels.[8] As a name, Dominicus, it gave Italian Domenico, Spanish Domingo and English Dominic, and through Medieval Latin dominicālis English dominical.[1][3]

Timeline

  • late 2nd century BC – Afranius uses it.[4]
  • c. 75–c. 150 AD – Suetonius uses it of the emperor.[2][4]
  • c. 560–636 AD – Isidore explains diēs dominicus.[6][4]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Of a master or owner.[2]
  2. Of the emperor.[2]
  3. (Ecclesiastical Latin) Of the Lord, diēs dominicus, Sunday.[5][6]
  4. (Medieval Latin) Seigneurial; of the demesne.[7][8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  6. ^ a b c Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).
  7. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  8. ^ a b Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
Cite this entry

“Dominicus.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/dominicus. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·