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

A couple of centuries or so later, the peninsula became part of a Spanish land grant, and the demesne of Manuel Dominguez as his Rancho San Pedro.

From Los Angeles Times

The show has also expanded outside the demesne walls.

From BBC

It starts at Carlisle Circus at 10:00 BST and goes through the city centre, reaching the field at Barnett's Demesne at about lunchtime.

From BBC

Yet, unlike the hound of Hades, Mr. Bernbaum ferociously guarded the gates to his demesne against those he deemed the unwashed social dead, cosseting and fawning over the favored ones who made it past the gate.

From New York Times

Yet, unlike the hound of Hades, Mr. Bernbaum ferociously guarded the gates to his demesne against those he deemed the unwashed social dead, cosseting and fawning over the favored ones who made it past the gate.

From New York Times

Related Words

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