domina Latin · revision 6291

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Plautus|origins=la domus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''domina''' ''f'' (genitive dominae, masculine dominus); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the feminine of [[dominus]] “master”, from [[domus]] “house”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) If Oscan ⟨diomanas⟩ is cognate, a Proto-Italic *domVnā can be set up.^(Wiktionary) Inscriptions have the syncopated form ⟨domna⟩.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's first citations are from Plautus, of a mistress of a household.^(OLD 2012) Köbler's first source is Cicero.^(Köbler 2010) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant the mistress of a household, the owner, as in Plautus and Terence, and sometimes a wife, as in Virgil.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) It meant a female ruler, of goddesses mistress, as in Virgil, and as an adjective imperial, ruling.^(OLD 2012) It was a title of respect or affection, and a lover's mistress, as in Lucilius and Ovid.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant a lady, mistress.^(Stelten 1995) In Medieval Latin it meant a nun, a lady, an heiress or dowager, a lady-in-waiting and a princess.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(DMLBS) It survives in Italian ''donna'', French ''dame'' and Romanian ''doamnă''.^(Wiktionary) Through Old French ''dame'' it is the source of [[en|dame]] about 1200, and [[en|donna]] is borrowed from Italian.^(Etymonline) A diminutive *domnicella gave French ''damoiselle'', whence [[en|damsel]].^(Köbler 2010)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of the mistress of a house.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of a goddess and a wife.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1200 – English ''dame'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The mistress of a household, owner; a wife.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A female ruler; a goddess.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(title)'' [[m|en|Lady]]; a lover's mistress.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A nun; a lady-in-waiting.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[dominula]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[dominus]]

+ * [[domus]]

+ * [[en|dame]]

+ * [[en|damsel]]

+ * [[en|donna]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}