Dominion Meaning
/dəˈmɪnjən/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounPower or the use of power; sovereignty over something; stewardship, supremacy.
nounPredominance; ascendancy.
Sentence Examples
Does mankind have dominion over animals and birds?
The French continued to expand their dominion in Algeria.
CEFR Practice Quiz
Britain once claimed ____ over many of its far-off colonies.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Does mankind have ____ over animals and birds?
Word Origin & History
From Middle English dominion, from Middle French dominion, from Latin dominium (“lordship, right of ownership”), from dominus (“lord”), from domus (“house”). See demain, demesne, domain, dominium.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"And at the end of the dayes, I Nebuchad-nezzar lift vp mine eyes vnto heauen, and mine vnderſtanding returned vnto me, and I bleſſed the moſt high, and I praiſed, and honoured him that liueth for euer, whoſe dominion is an euerlaſting dominion, and his kingdome is from generation to generation."
— 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Daniel 4:34, column 1:
"To choose between dominion or slavery."
— 1881, Benjamin Jowett, Thucydides Translated into English:
"'Behold! once more I kiss thee, and by that kiss I give to thee dominion over sea and earth, over the peasant in his hovel, over the monarch in his palace halls, and cities crowned with towers, and those who breathe therein.'"
— 1886 October – 1887 January, H[enry] Rider Haggard, She: A History of Adventure, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1887, →OCLC:
"Objects placed foremost ought […] have dominion over things which are confus'd and transient."
— 1695, C[harles] A[lphonse] du Fresnoy, translated by John Dryden, De Arte Graphica. The Art of Painting, […], London: […] J[ohn] Heptinstall for W. Rogers, […], →OCLC:
"Oh cold, cold, rigid, dreadful Death, set up thine altar here, and dress it with such terrors as thou hast at thy command: for this is thy dominion!"
— 1843 December 19, Charles Dickens, “Stave Four. The Last of the Spirits.”, in A Christmas Carol. […], London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, page 137:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
Britain once claimed ____ over many of its far-off colonies.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Does mankind have ____ over animals and birds?