Latin Edit

Etymology Edit

From diēs (day) +‎ dominica (of the Lord (adj.)). Since the head-noun diēs could be either masculine or feminine, the phrase has a masculine counterpart in diēs Dominicus.

Found in Late Latin as a Christian replacement for the pagan diēs Sōlis (Sunday, literally day of the sun-god Sol). Completely erased the latter, as far as Romance is concerned.

Pronunciation Edit

Proper noun Edit

diēs Dominica f (genitive diēī Dominicae); fifth declension

  1. (Late Latin) Sunday
    • late 4th c. CE, Egeria, Peregrinatio ad loca sancta 2.25:
      Cum luce autem, quia dominica dies est, et proceditur in ecclesia maiore, quam fecit Constantinus, quae ecclesia in Golgotha est post Crucem, et fiunt omnia secundum consuetudinem, qua et ubique fit die dominica.
      At dawn, however, as it is Sunday, the people go to the greater church built by Constantine, located in Golgotha behind the Cross. They carry out everything that is usual everywhere on Sunday.

Declension Edit

Fifth-declension noun with a first-declension adjective.

Case Singular Plural
Nominative diēs Dominica diēs Dominicae
Genitive diēī Dominicae diērum Dominicārum
Dative diēī Dominicae diēbus Dominicīs
Accusative diem Dominicam diēs Dominicās
Ablative diē Dominicā diēbus Dominicīs
Vocative diēs Dominica diēs Dominicae

Synonyms Edit

Coordinate terms Edit

Descendants Edit

See also diēs Dominicus.
All Romance descendants reflect a shortening to dominica.

References Edit