Domini
|do-mi-ni|
🇺🇸
/doʊˈmiːni/
🇬🇧
/dəˈmiːni/
(dominus)
of the Lord / lords
Etymology
'Domini' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'dominus', where the root 'dom-' related to 'house' and 'dominus' meant 'master, lord'.
'Domini' developed from the Classical Latin noun 'dominus'; in Medieval and Ecclesiastical Latin the forms 'domini' (genitive singular and nominative plural) were widely used in church documents and fixed phrases such as 'Anno Domini', which then entered English usage.
Initially it meant 'lords' (plural) or 'of the lord' in Latin; over time, in English contexts the form became most familiar through the dating formula 'Anno Domini', where it functions as 'of the Lord' to mark years.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
latin nominative plural of 'dominus': 'lords' (plural). Used in medieval and ecclesiastical contexts to refer to multiple lords or masters.
In some medieval records the domini exercised authority over many villages.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Noun 2
latin genitive singular form (domini) meaning 'of the Lord'; used in the fixed Latin phrase 'Anno Domini' (AD), literally 'in the year of the Lord', to label years in the Christian era.
The year 1066 is often written as 1066 Anno Domini (AD).
Synonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/09/22 07:35