dominicale: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Extremely Low / SpecializedSpecialist, Historical, Ecclesiastical
Quick answer
What does “dominicale” mean?
A book containing gospel passages read in church on Sundays, especially during the medieval period.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A book containing gospel passages read in church on Sundays, especially during the medieval period.
A liturgical book or manuscript, primarily used from the 9th to 14th centuries, that systematically collects the gospel passages appointed to be read on Sundays and major feast days throughout the church year.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No differences in meaning or use. The term belongs entirely to a scholarly, historical domain where national variants are irrelevant.
Connotations
Evokes medieval Christianity, monastic life, manuscript culture, and liturgical scholarship.
Frequency
Effectively zero frequency in both varieties. Encountered only in highly specialized academic texts.
Grammar
How to Use “dominicale” in a Sentence
The [ADJECTIVE] dominicale contains...Scholars studied the dominicale from the [CENTURY].Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, theological, and manuscript studies to describe a specific type of liturgical book.
Everyday
Never used.
Technical
Term of art in codicology (study of books), liturgy, and medieval studies.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “dominicale”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “dominicale”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “dominicale”
- Pronouncing it like 'domino' (/ˈdɒmɪnəʊ/). The stress is on 'nic': /ˌdɒmɪˈnɪkəlɪ/.
- Using it to refer to any old book or any Christian text.
- Assuming it is a common word.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an extremely rare and specialized historical term used almost exclusively by academics in very specific fields like liturgy and manuscript studies.
No, it would not be understood. Use more general terms like 'old prayer book' or 'medieval church book' if discussing the concept in a non-specialist setting.
A dominicale contains only the gospel readings for Sundays and feasts. A missal is a complete book containing all the texts (prayers, readings, chants) needed by a priest to celebrate Mass throughout the year.
It derives from the Latin 'dominicus', meaning 'of the Lord' or 'pertaining to Sunday', reflecting its focus on the Lord's Day (Sunday) readings.
A book containing gospel passages read in church on Sundays, especially during the medieval period.
Dominicale is usually specialist, historical, ecclesiastical in register.
Dominicale: in British English it is pronounced /ˌdɒmɪˈnɪkəlɪ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌdɑːməˈnɪkəli/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. The word is purely referential.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think DOMINICALE -> DOMINICAL (relating to Sunday) + ALE (like an old tale). It's an old 'Sunday tale' book containing gospel stories.
Conceptual Metaphor
A DOMINICALE IS A MAP OF THE SPIRITUAL YEAR (it charts the scriptural journey through Sundays and feasts).
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'dominicale' primarily?