Word of the Day

: November 29, 2008

domicile

noun DAH-muh-syle or DOH-muh-syle

What It Means

1 : a dwelling place : place of residence : home

2 a : a person's fixed, permanent, and principal home for legal purposes

b : the place where a corporation is actually or officially established

domicile in Context

“One evening Tess and Clare were obliged to sit indoors keeping house, all the other occupants of the domicile being away.” (Thomas Hardy, Tess of the dUrbervilles)

Did You Know?

"Domicile" traces to Latin "domus," meaning "home," and English speakers have been using it as a word for “home” since at least the 15th century. In the eyes of the law, a domicile can also be a legal residence, the address from which one registers to vote, licenses a car, and pays income tax. Wealthy people may have several homes in which they live at different times of the year, but only one of their homes can be their official domicile for all legal purposes.