dominus Latin · revision 4566

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=Plautus|origins=la domus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈdɔ.mɪ.nʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈdɔː.mi.nus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''dominus''' ''m'' (genitive dominī, feminine domina); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+ A syncopated ''domnus'' appears in inscriptions.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Medieval texts also write ''dompnus'', especially as a title.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*dom-o/u-no-|t=of the house]], a derivative of the word for “house”, [[domus]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) Pinault reconstructs [[ine-pro|*dom-h₃n-o-|t=one who profits from the house]] and compares [[sa|दमूनस्|tr=dámūnas-|t=lord of the house]], but de Vaan doubts that the two go back to one inherited word.^(de Vaan 2008) Wiktionary gives both the Proto-Italic form and a reconstruction [[ine-pro|*domHnos|t=homeowner]].^(Wiktionary) Lewis & Short followed an older view connecting it with [[domō]] “to tame”.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus uses it of the master of slaves.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Classical Latin it was the master of a household or of slaves, an owner, and also the young master, the son of the house.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) It was the manager of a troupe or of games, the host of a feast, a ruler or despot and, of gods, a lord, ''dominus nāvis'' was the master of a ship.^(OLD 2012) As a courtesy title it meant “sir”, and lovers used it as a term of endearment.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In Christian Latin ''Dominus'' was the Lord, God.^(Wiktionary) Medieval writers used it of a vassal's lord, the emperor, the king and the holder of a seigniory, and ''dominus terrae'' was a territorial prince.^(Niermeyer 1976) The shortened ''domnus'' was common as a form of address and as an ecclesiastical title.^(DMLBS) It survives as [[it|donno]], [[es|dueño]], [[pt|dono]] and [[ro|domn]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a slave's master.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * mid-15th century – English ''dominion'' is recorded, from ''dominium'', a derivative of ''dominus''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1520s – English ''don'' is recorded as a title of respect, through Spanish.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The [[m|en|master]] of a household; an [[m|en|owner]], proprietor.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # The young master, the son of the house.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A manager of a troupe or of games; the host of a feast.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A ruler, [[m|en|lord]], [[m|en|despot]]; of gods, lord.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''Dominus nāvis'', the master of a ship.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A courtesy title: sir; a lover's term of endearment.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' ''Dominus'', the Lord, God.^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A feudal lord; the lord of a seigniory.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[domina]]

+ * [[dominicus]]

+ * [[dominium]]

+ * [[dominor]]

+ * [[dominulus]]

+ * [[domnifundus]]

+ * [[domnipraedius]]

+ * [[domicellus]]

+ * [[domināns]]

+ * [[dominanter]]

+ * [[dominātiō]]

+ * [[dominātor]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[domus]]

+ * [[en|don]]

+ * [[en|dominion]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Cicero wrote that the master should honour the house, not the house the master (''nec domō dominus, sed dominō domus honestanda est'').^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}