Finesentence logo

Demesne: meaning, definitions and examples

๐Ÿฐ
Add to dictionary

demesne

 

[ dษชหˆmeษชn ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

historical land

Demesne refers to land that is retained by an owner, especially for their own use, rather than being leased to tenants. In medieval Europe, demesne typically included the land cultivated by the lord's own laborers. It is often associated with the feudal system.

Synonyms

domain, estate, territory

Examples of usage

  • The lord's demesne was well-kept and prosperous.
  • The demesne land provided resources for the entire estate.
  • During the feudal period, demesne was crucial for maintaining the lord's wealth.

Translations

Translations of the word "demesne" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น domรญnio

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคธเฅเคตเคพเคฎเคฟเคคเฅเคต

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Eigenbesitz

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ tanah milik

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฒะปะฐัะฝั–ัั‚ัŒ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ wล‚asnoล›ฤ‡

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ้ ˜ๅœฐ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท domaine

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ dominio

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท mรผlk

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์˜ํ† 

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ู…ู„ูƒูŠุฉ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ domaine

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ majetok

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ้ข†ๅœฐ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ domena

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ eignarland

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะผะตะฝัˆั–ะบ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ›แƒคแƒšแƒแƒ‘แƒ”แƒšแƒแƒ‘แƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ mรผlk

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ dominio

Etymology

The term 'demesne' originates from the Old French word 'demeine', which itself is derived from 'demeiner', meaning to 'possess' or 'to hold'. The Latin root is 'dominium', meaning 'ownership' or 'property'. The usage of 'demesne' in English can be traced back to the late 14th century, reflecting the socio-economic structures of feudalism where land ownership was synonymous with power and status. 'Demesne' specifically referred to the land that a lord directly controlled for personal use, distinguishing it from land that was rented out to tenants. Over time, the term evolved but retained its connection to the concept of land ownership and control, particularly within the context of historical land management.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #20,828, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.