Webster
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Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Don

Don (dŏn), n. [Sp. don; akin to Pg. dom, It. donno; fr. L. dominus master. See Dame, and cf. Domine, Dominie, Domino, Dan, Dom.] 1. Sir; Mr; Signior; — a title in Spain, formerly given to noblemen and gentlemen only, but now common to all classes.

Don is used in Italy, though not so much as in Spain. France talks of Dom Calmet, England of Dan Lydgate. Oliphant.

2. A grand personage, or one making pretension to consequence; especially, the head of a college, or one of the fellows at the English universities. [Univ. Cant] "The great dons of wit." Dryden.

Don, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Donned (dŏnd); p. pr. & vb. n. Donning.] [Do + on; — opposed to doff. See Do, v. t., 7.] To put on; to dress in; to invest one's self with.

Should I don this robe and trouble you. Shak.

At night, or in the rain, He dons a surcoat which he doffs at morn. Emerson.

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Noah Porter, editor (Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913). Public domain. Text as transcribed by MICRA, Inc., from Project Gutenberg. Changed for Deep Dive Bible: Greek, which our source spelled in Latin letters, set in Greek letters; entries of one spelling merged into one article.