domineren

Forms

domineren^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from French dominer (“to exercise authority”), recorded in French from the 10th century, from Latin dominor (“to rule, be master of”), a derivative of dominus (“lord, master”) (see dominee).^[2][3][4][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The EWN's first record is the Middle Dutch present domineert “rules” of 1351.^[2] Van der Sijs dates the word to 1467–1490.^[5][3]

Semantic evolution

In the 16th century the verb meant “to rule, hold authority”: a text of 1525 says that the emperor Charles still rules highest in the world.^[6][2] It weakened to “to prevail, have the upper hand” (1629), and was used of a fortress that commands a place (1636), of a disease or a weather that prevails (1636, 1676), and transitively of mastering a land (1637).^[6] From 1562 it also meant “to be the most important”, the sense the WNT found still common in 1912 and the main one today.^[2][6][7]

In the 16th century domineren also meant “to play the lord, feast, carouse” (1583), later only in the southern Netherlands, and regionally “to rage, rant”.^[6] English domineer (1580s) was borrowed from the Dutch verb in the senses “to rule, play the master; to feast”.^[8][9] It was also borrowed into Indonesian.^[9]

Timeline

• 1351 – Middle Dutch domineert “rules” is recorded.^[2]
• 1525 – Dommenerende “ruling” is used of the emperor.^[6]
• 1562 – Domineert “prevails, is the most important”.^[2]
• 1580s – English domineer is first recorded.^[8]
• 1583 – Ghedomineert “caroused”.^[6]
• 1636 – It is used of a fortress commanding a place, and of a disease that prevails.^[6]

Meanings

Verb

1. To dominate, be the most prominent; also without an object.^[7][1][10]
2. To rule over, hold sway over.^[6][2]

Word family

• dominering

Related words

• dominee
• dominant
• English domineer

Usage notes

A separate verb domineren “to play dominoes”, formed from domino, was recorded in 1847.^[6]

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Philippa, Marlies; Debrabandere, Frans; Quak, Arend; Schoonheim, Tanneke; Sijs, Nicoline van der (2003–2009), Etymologisch woordenboek van het Nederlands, 4 vols., Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press; online via etymologiebank.nl
3. ^ a b Veen, P. A. F. van; Sijs, Nicoline van der (1997), Etymologisch woordenboek: de herkomst van onze woorden, 2nd ed., Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Lexicografie
4. ^ Vries, Jan de; Tollenaere, Félicien de (2004), Etymologisch woordenboek: onze woorden, hun oorsprong en ontwikkeling, 23rd ed., Utrecht: Het Spectrum, p. 106
5. ^ Sijs, Nicoline van der (2001), Chronologisch woordenboek: de ouderdom en herkomst van onze woorden en betekenissen, Amsterdam / Antwerpen: Veen
6. ^ a b c d e f g h i Vries, Matthias de; Winkel, L. A. te, et al. (1882–1998), Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal, 29 vols., 's-Gravenhage / Leiden: Nijhoff / Sijthoff / SDU; supplement 2001; gtb.ivdnt.org
7. ^ a b Van Dale Groot woordenboek hedendaags Nederlands (2014), Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Uitgevers
8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
9. ^ a b Sijs, Nicoline van der (2010), Nederlandse woorden wereldwijd, Den Haag: Sdu; with additions from the Uitleenwoordenbank (2015)
10. ^ WikiWoordenboek (Dutch Wiktionary), nl.wiktionary.org