▪ I. domineer, v.
(dɒmɪˈnɪə(r))
Also 6–7 -eere, 7 -ere, -eir(e, -ier(e.
[app. a. early mod.Du. dominer-en to rule, have domination (1573 in Plantijn), a. F. dominer: see domine v.
The circumstances under which the Du. word was adopted in Eng. do not appear.]
1. intr. To rule or govern arbitrarily or despotically; to act imperiously; to tyrannize. Now usually (coloured by b), To exercise or assert authority in an overbearing manner, to lord it.
| 1588 [see domineering ppl. a. 1]. 1591 Sir T. Coningsby in Camden Misc. I. 62 (Stanf.) They commaund the countrie, and domineer and have their parts in any thing passinge. 1602 2nd Pt. Return fr. Parnass. iii. i. (Arb.) 37 Craft and cunning do so dominere. 1621 Burton Anat. Mel. i. ii. iv. ii. (1676) 96 Oligarchies, wherein a few rich men domineer. 1776 Adam Smith W.N. i. viii. (1869) I. 77 The mercantile company which domineers in the East Indies. 1875 W. S. Hayward Love agst. World 2 Not..disposed to domineer over his brothers or arrogate to himself a superiority. 1877 Mrs. Oliphant Makers Flor. xiv. 354 With a certain conscious despotism he rules, nay domineers, over us. |
† b. To assume lordly airs; to swagger, play the master. Obs.
| 1607 Topsell Four-f. Beasts (1658) 376 In this fashion he domineer'd a good time, until at last..a stranger..having oftentimes seen both Lions and Asses, knew it for an ass in a Lion's skin. 1678 Dryden Kind Kpr. i. i, He rants and domineers, He swaggers and swears. 1719 D'Urfey Pills (1872) IV. 193 When he had the money in his Purse, He domineered and vapoured. 1764 Foote Mayor of G. i. Wks. 1799 I. 173 She does now and then hector a little; and..domineers like the devil. |
† 2. To revel, roister, feast riotously. [Du. domineren to feast luxuriously.—Oudemans.] Obs.
| 1592 Nashe P. Penilesse (ed. 2) 7 b, Hee can neither traffique with the Mercers and Tailers as he was wont, nor dominere in Tauernes as hee ought. 1596 Shakes. Tam. Shr. iii. ii. 226 Goe to the feast, reuell and domineere..Be madde and merry. 1598 B. Jonson Ev. Man in Hum. ii. i, Let him spend, and spend, and domineere. 1691 Shadwell Scourers iv, We intend to..roar and drink bloodily, and domineer in the house. |
† 3. To dominate, predominate, prevail. Obs.
| 1602 Marston Antonio's Rev. v. i, O hunger, how thou dominer'st in my guts! 1659 B. Harris Parival's Iron Age 291 Infected places, and where the small pocks domineered. 1725 Bradley Fam. Dict. s.v. Sallet, To suit and mingle our Sallet-Ingredients..and to adjust them that nothing may be suffer'd to domineer. |
4. To tower (over, above); = dominate 3 b.
| 1658 [see domineering ppl. a. 3]. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. i. 229 Darnel domineers, And shoots its head above the shining Ears. 1837 W. Irving Capt. Bonneville I. 116 Three lofty mountains..which domineer as landmarks over a vast extent of country. 1848 Dickens Dombey xxiii. |
5. trans. a. To govern imperiously, tyrannize over, dominate with absolute sway.
| 1764 Gibbon Misc. Wks. (1814) V. 477 Supposing him domineered by the Metromanie in its utmost force. 1860 Emerson Cond. Life i. (1861) 23 All the bloods it shall absorb and domineer. 1885 Manch. Exam. 7 Oct. 5/1 The people have refused to be domineered by Committees and wirepullers. |
b. To tower over, ‘command’; = dominate 3.
| 1812 Sir R. Wilson Pr. Diary I. 136 The entrenchments..were domineered within pistol shot. 1843 Lefevre Life Trav. Phys. III. iii. ii. 98 The cathedral..situated upon a rock and domineering the whole town. |
▪ II. domiˈneer, n.
[f. prec. vb.]
A domineering manner or air; imperious swaggering.
| a 1768 Sir W. Wallace ix. in Child Ballads (1889) III. vi. 268/3 The captain..Did answer him in domineer. 1887 Baring-Gould Gaverocks I. i. 4 There was..a selfwill in the modelling of the lips, a domineer in the cut of the nose. |