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predominant

 - 3 dictionary results

pre⋅dom⋅i⋅nant

  [pri-dom-uh-nuhnt]
Use predominant in a Sentence
–adjective
1. having ascendancy, power, authority, or influence over others; preeminent.
2. preponderant; prominent: a predominant trait; the predominant color of a painting.
Origin:
1570–80; < ML praedominant- (s. of praedomināns), prp. of praedominārī to predominate. See pre-, dominant

Related forms:
pre⋅dom⋅i⋅nant⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1, 2. See dominant.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To predominant
pre·dom·i·nant   (prĭ-dŏm'ə-nənt)   
adj.  

  1. Having greatest ascendancy, importance, influence, authority, or force. See Synonyms at dominant.

  2. Most common or conspicuous; main or prevalent: the predominant color in a design.


[Medieval Latin praedomināns, praedominant-, present participle of praedominārī, to predominate; see predominate.]
pre·dom'i·nant·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

predominant 
1576, from M.Fr. prédominant (14c.), from M.L. *prædominantem, prp. of *prædominare, from L. præ- "before" + dominari "to rule" (see dominate). The verb predominate is attested from 1594.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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