dominion
UK: dəˈmɪniən | US: dəˈmɪnjən
n. sovereignty or control over a territory or people
n. a territory or domain governed by a ruler or authority
n. (theology) a spiritual or metaphysical realm of divine authority
The word "dominion" traces back to the Latin "dominium," meaning "ownership" or "lordship," derived from "dominus" (master, lord). The suffix "-ion" was added in Old French to form "dominion," which entered Middle English with the sense of "territorial control." The term reflects hierarchical power structures, originally tied to feudal systems where a "dominus" exercised authority over land and subjects. Over time, it expanded to include abstract domains (e.g., "dominion of nature") and theological contexts (e.g., "God's dominion").
The king asserted his dominion over the newly conquered lands.
Canada was once a dominion of the British Empire.
Environmentalists argue against humanity's dominion over nature.
The treaty recognized the tribe's dominion over the ancestral territory.
In Christian theology, God's dominion encompasses all creation.