dominant English · revision 6494

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1460|origins=la domus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈdɒmɪnənt/ ''(UK)''; /ˈdɑmənənt/, /ˈdɒmɪnənt/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English domynaunt, [[bor|frm|dominant]] or directly [[bor|la|dominans|t=ruling]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) the present participle of [[m|la|dominor|alt=dominārī|t=to rule, govern]] (see [[dominate]]), from [[m|la|dominus|t=lord, master]], from [[m|la|domus|t=house]],^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from PIE [[ine-pro|*dem-|t=house, household]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In the phrase ''ordre dominaunt'', the name of the fourth order of angels: the mid-15th century in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) before 1460 in Barnhart.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Exercising chief authority, ruling or most influential, is from about 1532, the 1530s in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) Occupying a commanding position, as a hill, is from 1854.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) In music, the fifth note of a scale is the dominant from 1819, the first use of the noun.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(Hoad 1986) In genetics, a dominant characteristic, one that appears in the offspring even when the matching gene is different, is from 1900, translating Mendel's German dominierend (1866).^(OED 1989) In forestry, dominant trees overtop the rest (1893).^(OED 1989) The sense in sexual bondage, controlling the submissive partner, is from about 1960.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1460 – an order of angels.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1532 – ruling, commanding.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1819 – in music.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1854 – occupying a commanding position.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1900 – in genetics.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Most powerful or influential; [[controlling]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Most prominent; [[predominant]]: ''the dominant colour''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(genetics)'' Of a [[gene]] or trait, appearing in the offspring even when paired with a [[recessive]] gene.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Occupying a high or commanding position.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(music)'' The fifth note of a [[scale]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(genetics)'' A dominant gene or trait.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[dominantly]]

+ * [[subdominant]]

+ * [[codominant]]

+ * [[dominance]]

+ * [[nondominant]]

+ * [[semidominant]]

+ * [[superdominant]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[dominate]]

+ * [[domain]]

+ * [[dominion]]

+ * [[predominant]]

+ * [[domestic]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}