demesne

Meaning

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.
• A region or area; a domain.

Origin

• From Middle English demayne, from Anglo-Norman demeyne, demene et al., Old French demeine, demaine, demeigne, domaine (whence French domaine ("domain")), a noun use of an adjective, from Latin dominicus ("belonging to a lord or master"), from dominus. See dame. domain.