don

¹

[ don; Spanish, Italian dawn ]

noun

1. (initial capital letter) Mr.; Sir: a Spanish title prefixed to a man's given name.
2. (in Spanish-speaking countries) a lord or gentleman.
3. (initial capital letter) an Italian title of address, especially for a priest.
4. a person of great importance.
5. (in the English universities) a head, fellow, or tutor of a college.
6. (in the Mafia) a head of a family or syndicate.

Don

²

[ don; Russian dawn ]

noun

1. a river flowing generally S from Tula in the Russian Federation in Europe, to the Sea of Azov. About 1,200 miles (1,930 km) long.
2. a river in NE Scotland, flowing E from Aberdeen county to the North Sea. 62 miles (100 km) long.
3. a river in central England, flowing NE from S Yorkshire to the Humber estuary. 60 miles (97 km) long.
4. a male given name, form of Donald.

don

³

[ don ]

verb (used with object)

, donned, don·ning.

1. to put on, as clothing or equipment:

   He donned his best shirt and tie for the interview.

   Donning goggles and fins, they dived off the raft one by one.

2. to assume or adopt, as a particular attitude, responsibility, etc.:

   The actress is all set to don a new role as first-time director of her own film.

Don

⁴

[ dawn ]

noun

, Welsh Mythology.

1. a goddess, the mother of Gwydion and Arianrod: corresponds to the Irish Danu.

don

⁵

[ dohn ]

conjunction

1. (in prescriptions) donec.

don

¹

/ dɒn /

verb

1. tr to put on (clothing)

Don

²

/ don; dɒn /

noun

1. a Spanish title equivalent to Mr : placed before a name to indicate respect

don

³

/ dɒn /

noun

1. a member of the teaching staff at a university or college, esp at Oxford or Cambridge
2. the head of a student dormitory at certain Canadian universities and colleges
3. a Spanish gentleman or nobleman
4. (in the Mafia) the head of a family

Don

⁴

/ dɒn /

noun

1. a river rising in W Russia, southeast of Tula and flowing generally south, to the Sea of Azov: linked by canal to the River Volga. Length: 1870 km (1162 miles)
2. a river in NE Scotland, rising in the Cairngorm Mountains and flowing east to the North Sea. Length: 100 km (62 miles)
3. a river in N central England, rising in S Yorkshire and flowing northeast to the Humber. Length: about 96 km (60 miles)

Word History and Origins

Origin of don¹

First recorded in 1515–25; from Italian, Spanish, from Latin dominus “lord, master”

Origin of don²

First recorded in 1560–70; contraction of do ¹ + on; doff

Origin of don³

By shortening of Latin donec ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of don¹

C14: from do ¹+ on ; compare doff

Origin of don²

C16: via Spanish, from Latin dominus lord; see don ²

Origin of don³

C17: ultimately from Latin dominus lord

Example Sentences

We brought in Don Lemon, the year that he wrote his book, and I told that story to the audience that was there.

From The Daily Beast

Nobody knows chaotic living quite like Don Draper, what with juggling high profile clients, his many paramours, and travel.

From The Daily Beast

The Old-Fashioned is the crème of the cocktail crop—according to Don Draper, at least.

From The Daily Beast

She reportedly also had a book collection worth more than €20 million, including a first edition of Don Quixote from 1605.

From The Daily Beast

Don Terry, a senior writer at the Southern Poverty Law Center, doubts it.

From The Daily Beast

"Don Alvar de Mendoce, for example," muttered Alphonse, between his teeth.

From Project Gutenberg

This was when Don Joan Ronquillo, with that great fleet, went out and fought the one that the enemy maintained along these coasts.

From Project Gutenberg

Don Diego beckoned two guards, who immediately drew near their prisoner.

From Project Gutenberg

The same has been said of Don Juan de Alvarado, ex-fiscal, and that is known throughout the country as a public matter.

From Project Gutenberg

You have not delivered into the hands of our chief, Don Emilio Aguinaldo, the money as agreed upon.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• dress
• put on
• wear