put on an item of clothing.
She donned her warm coat before heading out into the rain.
The actor donned his costume just before the show started.
✦ Back-formation from Middle English donned, past participle of don ('to do on'), from Old English dōn on.
a Spanish title prefixed to a man's forename.
Don Juan is a legendary seducer in literature.
The villagers respectfully called him Don Miguel.
✦ From Spanish don, from Latin dominus (“lord, master”).
a senior member of a college at the University of Oxford or Cambridge.
The don gave an inspiring lecture to the students.
She consulted her don about her thesis.
✦ Originally denoting the head of a college, from Spanish don.
the head of a family of organized criminals.
The don commanded respect from his family.
Movies often portray the mafia don as powerful.
✦ From Italian don, from Latin dominus ('lord'), used in mafia context via Spanish/Italian influence.
