1610s, "to rule over, control by mastery," a back-formation from domination or else from Latin dominatus, past participle of dominari "to rule, dominate, to govern," from dominus "lord, master," from domus "house" (from PIE root *dem- "house, household"). Meaning "have chief influence over or effect on" is by 1818. Intransitive sense of "predominate, prevail" is by 1816. Related: Dominated; dominating.