Demesne Definition

dĭ-mān, -mēn
demesnes
noun
demesnes
Possession (of real estate) in one's own right.
Webster's New World
The land or estate belonging to a lord and not rented or let but kept in his hands.
Webster's New World
The land around a mansion; lands of an estate.
Webster's New World
An extensive piece of landed property; an estate.
American Heritage
A district; a territory.
American Heritage
Synonyms:

Other Word Forms of Demesne

Noun

Singular:
demesne
Plural:
demesnes

Origin of Demesne

  • From Anglo-Norman demeyne, demene et al., Old French demeine, demaine, demeigne, domaine (“power”) (whence French domaine (“domain”)), a noun use of an adjective, from Latin dominicus (“belonging to a lord or master”), from dominus (“master, proprietor, owner”). See dame, and compare demain, domain.

    From Wiktionary

  • Anglo-French respelling (probably influenced by French mesne) (variant of Anglo-Norman meen middle) (in legal phrase mesne lord lord who holds a manor of a superior lord) of Middle English demeine from Anglo-Norman from Old French demaine domain

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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