Demesne
noun
Land that a lord or a lady owns and controls directly, not given to vassals.
The knight bowed before the lord, pledging to protect the lord's demesne.
Often appears as...
- royal demesne
- demesne lands
Usage tips
Formal
Literary
noun
Power or control over something.
The CEO has demesne over the strategic decisions of the company.
Often appears as...
- within demesne
- beyond demesne
Usage tips
Formal
noun
Land that a lord or a lady owns and controls directly, not given to vassals.
The knight bowed before the lord, pledging to protect the lord's demesne.
Often appears as...
- royal demesne
- demesne lands
Usage tips
Formal
Literary
noun
Power or control over something.
The CEO has demesne over the strategic decisions of the company.
Often appears as...
- within demesne
- beyond demesne
Usage tips
Formal
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Historical Usage
Used to discuss historical estates, adds an old-fashioned tone to the language.
The bard sang tales of the vast demesne owned by the noble.
Pro Tip 2/3Literary Context
Often appears in literature to describe medieval or feudal land holdings.
Her inheritance included a small demesne on the outskirts of the kingdom.
Pro Tip 3/3Not for Vassals
Specifies land a lord keeps for personal use, rather than land granted to others.
A portion of the harvest from the lord's demesne was stored for the winter.
Pro Tip 1/3Historical Usage
Used to discuss historical estates, adds an old-fashioned tone to the language.
The bard sang tales of the vast demesne owned by the noble.
Pro Tip 2/3Literary Context
Often appears in literature to describe medieval or feudal land holdings.
Her inheritance included a small demesne on the outskirts of the kingdom.
Pro Tip 3/3Not for Vassals
Specifies land a lord keeps for personal use, rather than land granted to others.
A portion of the harvest from the lord's demesne was stored for the winter.
Pro Tip 1/3Historical Usage
Used to discuss historical estates, adds an old-fashioned tone to the language.
The bard sang tales of the vast demesne owned by the noble.
Pro Tip 2/3Literary Context
Often appears in literature to describe medieval or feudal land holdings.
Her inheritance included a small demesne on the outskirts of the kingdom.
Pro Tip 3/3Not for Vassals
Specifies land a lord keeps for personal use, rather than land granted to others.
A portion of the harvest from the lord's demesne was stored for the winter.
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Quote examples
John Jeremiah Sullivan
American Writer
The greenness of Ireland is a false greenness, after all. Not that it isn't green - the place can still make you have to pull off and swallow one of your heart pills. It's that the greenness doesn't mean what it seems. It doesn't encode a pastoral past, much less a timeless vale where wee folk trip the demesne.
Quote examples
John Jeremiah Sullivan
American Writer
The greenness of Ireland is a false greenness, after all. Not that it isn't green - the place can still make you have to pull off and swallow one of your heart pills. It's that the greenness doesn't mean what it seems. It doesn't encode a pastoral past, much less a timeless vale where wee folk trip the demesne.
Example 1 of 1
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