dominie
/'dɔmini/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. A clergyman or minister, especially one who is settled in a parish or congregation. This is the primary meaning, referring to a religious leader, often in a Protestant tradition, who has pastoral charge of a specific community. 2. (Chiefly Scottish & US, archaic or dialect) A schoolmaster. This secondary meaning, now less common, refers to a teacher, especially one in a village or parish school.
Usage Examples
- As a clergyman:
- The old dominie delivered a powerful sermon that moved the entire congregation.
- The village dominie was responsible for both the spiritual and moral guidance of his parishioners.
- As a schoolmaster (archaic/dialect):
- In the old Scottish tale, the children were both respectful and fearful of the strict village dominie.
Advanced Usage
- The term often carries a connotation of formality, respect, and sometimes sternness associated with the authority figure it describes.
- It is frequently used in historical or regional contexts rather than in modern, general English.
Variants and Related Words
- Dominus (Latin): Meaning "lord" or "master," this is the etymological root of "dominie."
- Dominee (Afrikaans/Dutch): A direct cognate meaning "minister" or "reverend," used in South Africa and the Netherlands.
Synonyms
- Clergyman: A general term for a male religious leader.
- Minister: A Protestant religious leader.
- Parson: A clergyman, especially one with a parish.
- Pastor: A minister in charge of a Christian congregation.
- Schoolmaster (for the archaic sense): A male teacher, especially in a private school.
Idioms and Phrases
- While there are no common idioms using "dominie" itself, the authority of a dominie is sometimes referenced in phrases like "stern as a dominie" to describe a very strict or moralistic person.
Noun
- a clergyman; especially a settled minister or parson