demesne

[ dih-meyn, -meen ]

noun

1. possession of land as one's own:

   land held in demesne.

2. an estate or part of an estate occupied and controlled by, and worked for the exclusive use of, the owner.
3. land belonging to and adjoining a manor house; estate.
4. the dominion or territory of a sovereign or state; domain.
5. a district; region.

demesne

/ -ˈmiːn; dɪˈmeɪn /

noun

1. land, esp surrounding a house or manor, retained by the owner for his own use
2. property law the possession and use of one's own property or land
3. the territory ruled by a state or a sovereign; realm; domain
4. a region or district; domain

Other Words From

• de·mesni·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of demesne¹

1250–1300; Middle English demeine < Anglo-French demesne, Old French demein; domain

Word History and Origins

Origin of demesne¹

C14: from Old French demeine; see domain

Example Sentences

Then when all these things were accomplished did Hakon quit Denmark & thence fared forth to the north of Norway, to his demesne.

From Project Gutenberg

Presumably their chief duty was to undertake a share in the cultivation of the demesne land.

From Project Gutenberg

The Board received an offer of £11,000 for the mansion, demesne and sporting rights over the estate.

From Project Gutenberg

That is the royal demesne, and no stranger intrudes unpunished.

From Project Gutenberg

The musician was a young man, in a boat, which he had moored beneath the trees of their demesne.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• country
• district
• field
• land
• locality
• neighborhood
• part
• place
• province
• sector
• suburb
• territory
• world
• zone