Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Dominical?

\Do*min"ic*al\, a. [LL. dominicalis, for L. dominicus belonging to a master or lord (dominica dies the Lord's day), fr. dominus master or lord: cf. F. dominical. See {Dame}.] 1. Indicating, or pertaining to, the Lord's day, or Sunday. 2. Relating to, or given by, our Lord; as, the dominical (or Lord's) prayer. --Howell. Some words altered in the dominical Gospels. --Fuller. {Dominical altar} (Eccl.), the high altar. {Dominical letter}, the letter which, in almanacs, denotes Sunday, or the Lord's day (dies Domini). The first seven letters of the alphabet are used for this purpose, the same letter standing for Sunday during a whole year (except in leap year, when the letter is changed at the end of February). After twenty-eight years the same letters return in the same order. The dominical letters go backwards one day every common year, and two every leap year; e. g., if the dominical letter of a common year be G, F will be the dominical letter for the next year. Called also {Sunday letter}. Cf. {Solar cycle}, under {Cycle}, n.
\Do*min"ic*al\, n. The Lord's day or Sunday; also, the Lord's prayer. [Obs.]