Dominican

/dəˈmɪnɪkən/ adjective/noun

Definition

Relating to the Dominican Republic or its people, or referring to a member of the Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic.

Etymology

The country name comes from Santo Domingo, named after Saint Dominic (Latin Dominicus, meaning 'of the Lord'). The religious order was founded in 1216 by Saint Dominic de Guzmán, taking their name from their founder.

Kelly Says

The word Dominican beautifully illustrates how religious history shapes geography - both the Caribbean nation and the religious order share the same root in Saint Dominic's name, meaning 'belonging to the Lord.' It's fascinating that a 13th-century Spanish monk's dedication to preaching and learning would eventually name both a religious community and an entire country.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.