demesne
Other forms: demesnes
In medieval Europe, a demesne was the part of a lord's land that he kept for his own use. These days, it's more often used to mean "property" or "territory."
The term demesne was originally used to distinguish land totally controlled by a lord from areas that were turned over to tenants. Demesne lands were often farmed and tended by serfs, with the profits or crops going to the lord and his family. Demesne comes from the Latin dominicus, "belonging to a master," and its root domus, "house," which it shares with domicile.
Definitions of demesne
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territory over which rule or control is exercised
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types:
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archduchy
the domain controlled by an archduke or archduchess
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barony
the domain of a baron
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duchy, dukedom
the domain controlled by a duke or duchess
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earldom
the domain controlled by an earl or count or countess
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emirate
the domain controlled by an emir
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empire, imperium
the domain ruled by an emperor or empress; the region over which imperial dominion is exercised
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fiefdom
the domain controlled by a feudal lord
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grand duchy
the domain controlled by a grand duke or grand duchess
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viscounty
the domain controlled by a viscount or viscountess
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khanate
the realm of a khan
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kingdom, realm
the domain ruled by a king or queen
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princedom, principality
territory ruled by a prince
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sheikdom, sheikhdom
the domain ruled by a sheik
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suzerainty
the domain of a suzerain
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type of:
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region
a large indefinite location on the surface of the Earth
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extensive landed property (especially in the country) retained by the owner for his own use
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synonyms:
acres, estate, land, landed estate
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types:
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freehold
an estate held in fee simple or for life
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glebe
plot of land belonging to an English parish church or an ecclesiastical office
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leasehold
land or property held under a lease
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smallholding
a piece of land under 50 acres that is sold or let to someone for cultivation
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homestead
land acquired from the United States public lands by filing a record and living on and cultivating it under the homestead law
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feoff, fief
a piece of land held under the feudal system
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barony
the estate of a baron
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countryseat
an estate in the country
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Crown land
land that belongs to the Crown
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manor
the landed estate of a lord (including the house on it)
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seigneury, seigniory, signory
the estate of a seigneur
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hacienda
a large estate in Spanish-speaking countries
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plantation
an estate where cash crops are grown on a large scale (especially in tropical areas)
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entail
land received by fee tail
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orangery
a place where oranges are grown; a plantation of orange trees in warm climes or a greenhouse in cooler areas
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type of:
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immovable, real estate, real property, realty
property consisting of houses and land
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