Legal Definitions - dominical

Dominical refers to anything that pertains to a Sunday or is characteristic of the Lord's Day.

This term is often used in historical, religious, or calendrical contexts to describe something specifically associated with the first day of the week.

• Example 1: In many historical legal systems, certain restrictions on commerce or entertainment were known as "blue laws." A law prohibiting the sale of alcohol on Sundays would be considered a dominicalregulation, as it specifically applies to that particular day of the week.

  Explanation: This example illustrates "dominical" by showing a legal restriction that is directly tied to Sunday, highlighting how the term describes something "of or relating to a Sunday."

• Example 2: In the study of ancient calendars or liturgical cycles, scholars might refer to a "dominical letter" used to mark the Sundays throughout a given year. This system helps determine the date of Easter and other movable feasts.

  Explanation: Here, "dominical" describes a specific element (a letter) within a calendar system whose sole purpose is to identify and relate to Sundays, showing its connection to the Lord's Day.

• Example 3: A family might have a long-standing tradition of a special "dominical dinner," meaning a particular meal or gathering that always takes place on Sunday, distinct from their meals on other days of the week.

  Explanation: This example demonstrates "dominical" in a social context, where a specific activity (the dinner) is inherently linked to and characteristic of Sunday, making it a "dominical" tradition.