DOMINUS (from an Indo-

See also:

• EUROPEAN

European

See also:

• ROOT (late O.E. rot, adopted from Scand., cf. Norw. and Swed. rot, Dan. rod; the true O.E. word was wyrt, plant, represented in Ger. Wurz or Wurzel; the ultimate root is the same in both words, and is seen in Lat. radix)
• ROOT, ELIHU (1845– )

root

See also:

• DAM

dam-, cf. Gr. Sapav, to subdue, and Eng. " tame ")  , the Latin word for master or owner . As a title of sovereignty the term under the republic at Rome had all the associations of the Greek rupavvos; refused during the early principate, it finally became an official title of the Roman emperors under Diocletian . Dominus, the French equivalent being sieur, was the Latin title of the feudal (superior and mesne) lords, and also"an ecclesiastical and academical title . The ecclesiastical title was rendered in English " sir," which was a common prefix before the Reformation for parsons, as in ' Sir Hugh Evans" in Shakespeare's Merry Wives of Windsor . The academical use was for a bachelor of arts, and so is still used at Cambridge and other universities . The shortened form " dom " is used as a prefix of honour for ecclesiastics of the Roman Church, and especially for members of the Benedictine and other religious orders . The same form is also a title of honour in Portugal, as formerly in Brazil, used by members of the blood royal and others on whom it has been conferred by the sovereign . The Spanish form " don " is also a title, formerly applicable only to the nobility, and now one of courtesy and respect applied to any member of the better classes . The feminine form " donna " is similarly applied to a lady . The English colloquial use of " don" for a fellow or tutor of a college at a university is derived either from an application of the Spanish title to one having authority or position, or from the academical use of dominus . The earliest use of the word in this sense appears, according to the New English Dictionary, in South's Sermons (166o) . An English corruption " dan " was in early use as a title of respect, equivalent to " master." The particular literary application to poets is due to Spenser's use of " Dan Chaucer, well of English undefyled (Faery Queen, IV. ii .

32) .