-domsuffix

Abstract suffix of state, which has grown out of an independent noun, originally putting, setting, position, statute, Old High German tuom, position, condition, dignity, in Old English dóm, statute, judgement, jurisdiction, < stem dô- of do v. + abstract suffix -moz, Old English -m, as in hel-m, sea-m, strea-m, etc. Frequent already in Old English as a suffix to nouns and adjectives, as biscopdóm the dignity of a bishop, cyningdóm, cynedóm, royal or kingly dominion, kingdom, ealdordóm the position or jurisdiction of an elder or lord; þeowdóm, the condition of a þeow or slave; fréodóm, háligdóm, wisdóm the condition or fact of being free, holy, or wise. The number of these derivatives has increased in later times, and -dom is now a living suffix, freely employed to form nonce-derivatives, not only with the sense of ‘condition, state, dignity’, but also with that of ‘domain, realm’ (figurative). See in their alphabetical places alderdom, Anglo-Saxondom, boredom, Christendom, cuckoldom, dukedom, earldom, freedom, kingdom, martyrdom, popedom, sheriffdom, thraldom, wisdom, etc. Examples of nonce-words appear in the quotations.