Week 4 - Domineer

Ever since I began taking AP english courses, I have always been infatuated with the word "domineer." To me, domineer seems like a highly empowering word, much like its definition. The dictionary states that domineer is a verb, meaning "to assert one's will over another in an arrogant way." It derives from the late 16th century--"dominieren" in Dutch, "dominer" in French, "dominari" in Latin, and "dominate" in English. The first time I encountered this word was while reading a sample essay in my junior AP English class. The word absolutely jumped out at me from the page, as I was immediately fascinated by it. In my opinion, domineer is a perfect way to convey dominance and empowerment.

When I think of the word, domineer, I think of lightning bolts. Both, in a sense, portray outrageous power. In my opinion, domineer is such an influential choice of diction in the english language, one that is not often seen. I have most commonly seen this word used in rhetorical analyses between two persuading authors; one may domineer the other in certain literary aspects. Knowledge of this word has helped me make several essays a lot smoother, being that it is a more intellectual word.

If domineer had a smell, much like the lightning bolt comparison, it would smell like rain on a dark and stormy night. However, it would also smell like a strong herb, such as basil or rosemary. Since domineer has a strong, overbearing meaning anyway, the smell of herbs would sufficiently satisfy domineer's existence. It would taste very strong, like wasabi or ginger. I have had an overbearing encounter with both at sushi restaurants. The first time, I ate a huge chunk of ginger, thinking it was salmon. The second time, I ate a massive scoop of wasabi, thinking it was guacamole. Both times, I was extremely shocked by their overpowering tastes. For this reason, I can easily say that "domineer" fits in with the effects of wasabi and ginger.

In essence, you can probably tell that I view "domineer" as a strong word, much like hate or love--it refers to one's conceited dominance over another. I think it is a very effective word in expressing superiority, therefore I tend to use it in my essays a lot.