Demesne

Demesne

dəˈmān

Noun

  • Land attached to a manor and retained for the owner’s own use.
  • The lands of an estate.
  • A region or domain.
  • Possession of real property in one’s own right.

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Example Sentences

“The monarch’s demesne includes Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.”

“The small strip of sand on the edge of the island was not part of the ruler’s demesne.”

“The family’s demesne was small, yet still profitable.”

Word Origin

Latin, late 13th century

Why this word?

Let’s start with the Latin “dominus” (meaning “lord, master”), which turned into the Old French “demeine,” which became the Anglo-Norman French “demesne,” meaning “belonging to a lord.” The latter came into Old English in the 13th century. In medieval Europe, “demesne” indicated the part of a lord’s land that was kept for his personal use and not used by tenants. In modern usage, “demesne” means an owner’s property or territory, or it can refer to an area of activity, knowledge, or influence. In a legal sense, “held in demesne” describes property that is occupied by an owner, not tenants. 

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ˌperəˈdōlēə