demesne

noun

de·mesne | \ di-ˈmān

, -ˈmēn

Definition of demesne

1 : legal possession of land as one's own

2 : manorial land actually possessed by the lord and not held by tenants

3a : the land attached to a mansion

b : landed property : estate

c : region sense 2, territory

4 : realm sense 2, domain

Synonyms Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about demesne

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Synonyms for demesne

Synonyms

area, field, region, zone

Did You Know?

Why isn't "demesne" pronounced the way it's spelled? Our word actually began as "demayn" or "demeyn" in the 14th century, when it was borrowed from Anglo-French property law. At that time, the Anglo-French form was "demeine." Later, the Anglo-French spelling changed to "demesne," perhaps by association with another term from Anglo-French property law: mesne, meaning "intermediate." ("Mesne" has entered English as a legal term as well.) According to rules of French pronunciation, the "s" was silent and the vowel was long. English speakers eventually followed suit, adopting the "demesne" spelling. Our word domain (which overlaps with the meaning of "demesne" in some applications) also comes from Anglo-French demeine.

Examples of demesne in a Sentence

the vast and frozen demesne of the northern tundra the view that the issue is not in the demesne of the courts and is something that should be decided by the state legislature

Recent Examples on the Web

Still, enough of the original grounds remain as part of Biltmore’s grandeur as to suggest, even today, a demesne with a castle at its center. — Stuart Ferguson, WSJ, "A Carolina Xanadu," 29 Sep. 2017

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demesne

Definition of demesne

Synonyms for demesne

Did You Know?

Examples of demesne in a Sentence

First Known Use of demesne

History and Etymology for demesne

demesne

Definition of demesne

Synonyms for demesne

Did You Know?

Examples of demesne in a Sentence

First Known Use of demesne

History and Etymology for demesne

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