dominion

From Middle English dominion, from Middle French dominion, from Medieval Latin dominio, equiv. to Latin dominium (“lordship, right of ownership”), from dominus (“lord”), from domus (“house”). See domain, demain, demesne.

• IPA^(key): /doʊˈmɪnjən/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɪnjən

dominion (countable and uncountable, plural dominions)

1. Power or the use of power; sovereignty over something; stewardship, supremacy.
   • Bible, Daniel iv. 34

     I praised and honoured him that liveth forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion.

   • Jowett

     To choose between dominion or slavery.

2. predominance; ascendancy
   • Dryden

     Objects placed foremost ought […] have dominion over things confused and transient.

3. (sometimes figuratively) A kingdom, nation, or other sphere of influence; governed territory.

   the dominions of a king

   the dominion of the passions

4. (Biblical tradition) An order of angel in Christian angelology, ranked above angels and below thrones.
   • Bible, Colossians 1:16

     By him were all things created […] whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers.

• dominate
• domination
• dominator
• domineering
• domino

• dominion in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• dominion in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

dominion

1. Genitive singular form of dominio.