Don, from Latin dominus, is a Spanish (pron. ) and Portuguese (Dom, ) honorific title. It is usually used as a mark of high esteem for a distinguished Christian hidalgo or fidalgo; that is, a nobleman. In English "Don" is usually preceded by a definite article ("the"). Its abbreviation, particularly in Portuguese, is "D." It is still used in reference to priests, like the French Dom. The treatment was reserved for those who had royal or some higher old noble ancestry, as well as some title bearers who had their title without needing but the King's confirmation instead of authorization, the so called titles de Juro e Herdade. In Brazil it was not used in reference to nobles, but was used to refer to royals (both to the monarch and to princes), and, in the ranks of the clergy, it is only used to refer to Bishops or other senior ecclesiastical hierachs. The use is roughly comparable to