DOMINICAN. (1) One of a religious order called in some places Prxdicantes or Preaching Friars, and in France Jaco bins, from their first convent in Paris being in the Rue St. Jacobin. They took their ordinary name from their founder, Dominic de Guzman (afterward canon ized under the name of St. Dominic). The new order was approved of in 1215 by Pope Innocent III., and confirmed in 1216 by a bull of Pope Honorius III., un der the rule of St. Augustine, a rule to which they have adhered, though they subsequently adopted a white habit re sembling that of the Carthusians, in place of their original black dress. They were under a vow of absolute poverty. In England they were called Black Friars, and in 1276 the Corporation of London gave them two streets near the Thames, where they erected a large convent, whence that part is still called Black friars. The Dominicans always took a principal part in the Inquisition. The
Dominicans were the chief supporters of the doctrine of the Immaculate Con ception.
(2) One of an order of nuns founded by St. Dominic under the same rules as the friars, but devoted to industry.
(3) One of an order of knights founded by St. Dominic, for the purpose of put ting down heresy by force of arms.
Tertiaries of St. Dominic. — To the friars, nuns, and knights mentioned above, St. Dominic added, in 1221, the Tertiaries—persons who, without forsak ing secular life or even the marriage tie, connected themselves with the order by undertaking certain obligations, such as to dress plainly, to live soberly, to carry no weapon of offense, and to per form stated devotions. Similar orders existed in connection with the Francis cans and the Preamonstratensians. The members were entitled to be buried in the habit of the order.