dominion
- the power or right of governing and controlling; sovereign authority.
- rule; control; domination.
- a territory, usually of considerable size, in which a single rulership holds sway.
- lands or domains subject to sovereignty or control.
- Government. a territory constituting a self-governing commonwealth and being one of a number of such territories united in a community of nations, or empire: formerly applied to self-governing divisions of the British Empire, as Canada and New Zealand.
- dominions, Theology. domination(def 3).
Origin of dominion
Related Words for dominions
control, domain, regimentation, jurisdiction, terrain, walk, supremacy, sphere, regiment, seniority, empire, management, realm, district, field, prerogative, commission, state, privilege, sovereigntyExamples from the Web for dominions
Contemporary Examples of dominions
The three Dominions together engaged some 40% of the German army.
Yet when British troops left their African, Middle Eastern, and Asian dominions, they left behind many embryonic democracies, too.
Historical Examples of dominions
This was her phrase for having entered on the dominions of England.
Harriet, The Moses of Her PeopleSarah H. Bradford
In his own dominions the voice of execration has been raised against him.
The Historical Nights' EntertainmentRafael Sabatini
He even offers to make a gift of his dominions to the Republic.
The Life of Cesare BorgiaRaphael Sabatini
She was a wise and discreet lady and assisted her husband to govern his dominions.
Japanese Fairy WorldWilliam Elliot Griffis
These you behold before you are the chief warriors of my dominions.
Ferdinand De Soto, The Discoverer of the MississippiJohn S. C. Abbott
dominions
- (often capital) another term for dominations
dominion
- rule; authority
- the land governed by one ruler or government
- sphere of influence; area of control
- a name formerly applied to self-governing divisions of the British Empire
- theDominion New Zealand
- law a less common word for dominium
Word Origin for dominion
Word Origin and History for dominions
dominion
early 15c., from Old French dominion "dominion, rule, power," from Medieval Latin dominionem (nominative dominio), corresponding to Latin dominium "property, ownership," from dominus (see domination).
British sovereign colonies often were called dominions, hence the Dominion of Canada, the formal title after the 1867 union, and Old Dominion, the popular name for the U.S. state of Virginia, first recorded 1778.