Meaning & use
dominees
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“dominees” is a form of “dominee”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meaning
nouncountable
Plural of dominee: a minister or pastor in certain Protestant churches, especially in South Africa and the Netherlands.
Grammar: Use it as the plural of 'dominee'; the singular refers to one minister.
Patterns
- a dominee
- the dominees
- dominees in South Africa
The dominees in our town take turns leading the Sunday service.
Several dominees from different congregations attended the meeting.
Word forms
| singular | dominee |
|---|
Common combinations
- a dominee in the Dutch Reformed Church
- He served as a dominee in the Dutch Reformed Church for thirty years.
- the local dominee
- The local dominee visited the sick members of the congregation.
- dominees and elders
- The dominees and elders met to discuss the church's finances.
Synonyms and how they differ
- minister
- A general term for a Protestant clergyperson; 'dominee' is more specific to certain churches and regions.
- pastor
- Often used for a minister who leads a congregation; 'dominee' is the preferred term in Dutch Reformed contexts.
- preacher
- Focuses on the role of giving sermons; 'dominee' also includes pastoral duties.
Word family
- dominee noun
- The singular form, meaning one such minister.
Practice
Which sentence uses the plural 'dominees' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Option 0 uses the plural 'dominees' with a plural verb 'preached', which is correct. Option 1 uses the singular 'dominee' with a singular verb, but the question asks for the plural. Option 2 incorrectly uses a singular verb 'is' with a plural subject. Option 3 incorrectly uses a plural verb 'are' with a singular subject.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “dominees”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.