domN

Domn is a Romanian term that historically designated a lord or sovereign in the principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia. In medieval and early modern usage, the domn was the ruler of the realm, a title used alongside or sometimes interchangeably with other leadership designations such as voievod. The word also appears in formal addresses and in legal charters as a marker of authority. In modern Romanian, the term survives mainly in historical context and in the phrase domnul, which is used as a polite form of address equivalent to Mr. or Sir.

Etymology and related terms: Domn derives from the Old Church Slavonic domŭ, meaning lord or master, and entered Romanian with the sense of sovereignty. Related forms in Romanian include domnie (reign or rule) and domnitor (a ruler, used officially during the 19th century). The combination of domn with the agentsuffix -itor produced domnitor, the formal title of the ruling prince of the United Principalities after the mid-19th century.

Historical development: In Wallachia and Moldavia, the ruler was commonly referred to as domn or addressed as Domn, especially in contemporary chronicles and correspondence. The title Domnitor was introduced during the period of unification, and from 1862 to 1866 the sovereign of the United Principalities bore the official title Domnitor al Principatelor Unite ale Moldovei și Valahiei. In 1881, after the establishment of the Kingdom of Romania, the title was replaced by King (Rege). The term domn thus shifted from an official sovereign title to a historical reference, while its everyday form remains in modern language as a formal address.

Contemporary usage: In present-day Romanian, domn survives primarily as part of the word domnul, used to address men politely, akin to Mister or Sir. The root also appears in historical discussions and in terms like domnie and domnitor when describing past rulers and periods.