demesne Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun extensive landed property (especially in the country) retained by the owner for his own use
    land; landed estate; estate; acres.
    • the family owned a large estate on Long Island
  2. noun territory over which rule or control is exercised
    domain; land.
    • his domain extended into Europe
    • he made it the law of the land

WordNet

De*mesne" noun
Etymology
OE. demeine, demain, rule, demesne, OF. demeine, demaine, demeigne, domaine, power, F. domaine domain, fr. L. dominium property, right of ownership, fr. dominus master, proprietor, owner. See Dame, and cf. DEmain, Domain, Danger, Dungeon.
Definitions
  1. (Law) A lord's chief manor place, with that part of the lands belonging thereto which has not been granted out in tenancy; a house, and the land adjoining, kept for the proprietor's own use. Written also demain. Wharton's Law Dict. Burrill.

Webster 1913