dŏmĭnātĭo, ōnis, f. [dominor], rule, dominion.
I Prop., among the republican Romans, mostly with an odious secondary meaning, unrestricted power , absolute dominion , lordship , tyranny , despotism (good prose; for syn. cf.: regnum, dicio, imperium, potestas, magistratus), Cic. Rep. 1, 32 (opp. libertas, id. ib. 1, 43; Asin. Pollio ap. Cic. Fam. 10, 31, 3; Sall. J. 31, 16; Liv. 3, 39; 4, 5; 6, 18; Tac. A. 6, 42 al.); Cic. Rep. 2, 9; 19; id. Phil. 3, 14, 34; id. Agr. 1, 6 fin. ; id. Att. 8, 3, 6; Sall. C. 5, 6; Nep. Milt. 3, 4; Quint. 9, 2, 97; Tac. A. 1, 3 et saep.—In the plur., Cic. Rep. 2, 26 fin. Mos.; Sall. Hist. Fragm. 1, 9, p. 214 ed. Gerl.; Tac. A. 3, 26; 12, 4; Vulg. Psa. 144, 13 al.—
II Transf., = dominantes, rulers , lords , despots.—Sing. collect. : totam eam dominationem in carcerem detraxit, Flor. 1, 24, 3.— Plur. , Tac. A. 13, 1.—
III Trop.: regnumque judiciorum, Cic. Verr. 1, 12, 35; cf.: regia in judiciis, id. ib. 2, 5, 68: firma et moderata rationis in libididem, id. Inv. 2, 54, 164.—
2 In eccl. Lat., angels , spiritual powers , Vulg. Colos. 1, 16.