demesne

[ dih-meyn, -meen ]
/ dɪˈmeɪn, -ˈmin /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR demesne ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

possession of land as one's own: land held in demesne.
an estate or part of an estate occupied and controlled by, and worked for the exclusive use of, the owner.
land belonging to and adjoining a manor house; estate.
the dominion or territory of a sovereign or state; domain.
a district; region.

Origin of demesne

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

OTHER WORDS FROM demesne

de·mesn·i·al, adjective

Words nearby demesne

demerge, demerger, demerit, demerol, demersal, demesne, demeter, demeton, demetrias, demetrius i, demi-

Words related to demesne

district, zone, region, colony, county, part, department, territory, province, sector, land, neighborhood, suburb, country, locality, field, place, world, circle, realm

Example sentences from the Web for demesne

British Dictionary definitions for demesne

demesne
/ (dɪˈmeɪn, -ˈmiːn) /

noun

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

Word Origin for demesne

C14: from Old French demeine; see domain