WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : De*mesne"
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [OE. demeine, demain, rule, demesne, OF. demeine, demaine, demeigne, domaine, power, F. domaine domain, fr. L. dominium property, right of ownership, fr. dominus master, proprietor, owner. See Dame, and cf. DEmain, Domain, Danger, Dungeon.] (Law)
Definition : Defn: 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. [Written also demain.] Wharton's Law Dict. Burrill. Ancient demesne. (Eng. Law) See under Ancient.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913