c.1386, from O.Fr.
domination, from L.
dominationem (nom.
dominatio), from
dominari "to rule, have dominion over," from
dominus "lord, master," lit. "master of the house," from
domus "home" (see
domestic) +
-nus, suffix denoting ownership or relation. First record of
dominance is 1819;
dominatrix is attested since 1561, though not in quite the usual modern sense ("Rome ... dominatrix of nations" [1561]).