Demesne
WordNet
noun
(1) Territory over which rule or control is exercised
"His domain extended into Europe"
"He made it the law of the land"
(2) Extensive landed property (especially in the country) retained by the owner for his own use
"The family owned a large estate on Long Island"
WiktionaryText
Etymology
demeine, demain, rule, demeine, demaine, demeigne, domaine, power, domaine domain, from dominium property, right of ownership, from dominus master, proprietor, owner. See dame, and confer demain, domain, danger, dungeon.
Noun
- 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.
Quotations
- 1816, John Keats, On First Looking into Chapman's Homer, lines 5-6
- Oft of one wide expanse had I been told
- That deep-brow'd Homer ruled as his demesne;