Word of the Day

Gibbon never disappoints.

demesne |diˈmān|noun historical1 land attached to a manor and retained for the owner's own use.• the lands of an estate.• archaic a region or domain : she may one day queen it over that fair demesne.2 historical Law possession of real property in one's own right.PHRASESheld in demesne (of an estate) occupied by the owner, not by tenants.ORIGIN Middle English : from Old French demeine (later Anglo-Norman French demesne) ‘belonging to a lord,’ from Latindominicus, from dominus ‘lord, master.’ Compare with domain .