Dominie (Wiktionary definition) is a Scots language and Scottish English term for a Scottish schoolmaster usually of the Church of Scotland and also a term used in the US[1] for a minister or pastor of the Dutch Reformed Church.

Origin

It comes from the Latin domine (vocative case of Dominus 'Lord, Master'). When the Church of Scotland began to introduce universal provision of education in Scotland after it became established as a national church in 1560, its aim was to have a university-educated schoolmaster in every parish. The minister sometimes served as the dominie. Over time this came to be used as a term for a minister, schoolmaster or university student.[2][3]

In the United States and in South Africa the same word is used to describe a pastor in the Dutch Reformed Church.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ van der Sijs, Nicoline (2009). Cookies, Coleslaw, and Stoops: The Influence of Dutch on the North American Languages. Amsterdam University Press. p. 219. ISBN 9789089641243.
  2. ^ "dominie n. a schoolmaster, teacher". Scots Language Centre. Archived from the original on 24 June 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  3. ^ a b "dominie". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)


Categories