A republic in the Greater Antilles in the west indies. Its capital is Santo Domingo. With haiti, it forms the island of Hispaniola - the dominican republic occupying the eastern two thirds, and haiti, the western third. It was created in 1844 after a revolt against the rule of President Boyer over the entire island of Hispaniola, itself visited by Columbus in 1492 and settled the next year. Except for a brief period of annexation to spain (1861-65), it has been independent, though closely associated with the united states. Its name comes from the Spanish Santo Domingo, Holy Sunday, with reference to its discovery on a Sunday. (From Webster's New Geographical dictionary, 1988, p338, 506 & Room, Brewer's dictionary of names, 1992, p151)