an old legal term, not limited to lands. Per Black's Law Dictionary:

"Demesne: Domain; dominical; held in one's own right, and not of a superior; not allotted to tenants."

"Demesne Lands: In English law. Those lands of a manor not granted out in tenancy, but reserved by the lord for his own use and occupation. Lands set apart and appropriated by the lord for his own private use, as for the supply of his table, and the maintenance of his family; the opposite of *tenemental lands."

and the historical import:

Ancient Demesne: Manors which in the time of Willliam the Conqueror were in the hands of the crown, and are so recorded in the Domesday Book.

demesne has several senses, mainly following from the legal one mentioned, but note that it is just another form of the word domain. (and is pronounced /di MANE/ or /di MENE/)

By her Fine foote, Straight leg, and Quiuering thigh, And the Demeanes, that there Adiacent lie. -WS, Romeo & Juliet

One wide expanse... That deep-browed Homer ruled as his demesne [rime serene]. -Keats

and tsuwm, Quiuering thigh?

Adjacent lies the promised land.

adjacent lies the promised land... quivering

(aren't you glad that spelling has been... standardized? :)

Somewhere I read "Lady Quivering-Quiff". In UK "quiff" is a style of hair cut. but at www.quiff.com it is something else again.Warning: highly improper.

busy day today-- i haven't had a break all day, no lunch, and no time to even read threads till now..(4 pm) and the NYTimes crossword.. is still unfinished! there in the middle i was stumped.. 36 across-- Lord's estate.. and i had more than half the letters, DE_ES_E-- and was still at a loss.. and here is this thread..

Oh i love you all!

The way to a lady's heart is through cross words?

>>The way to a lady's heart is through cross words?

Do you want my heart? Oh greedy man! you already have a wife, and flirt, and now you want to capture my heart too?
(and am i not still married?-- i thought Ck and i were married.. would you want to make him a cuckhold? though, i will admit things are not working out as i expected.. not a single credit card to date! )

Please don't pine for me.. unrequited loves a bore!

>>The way to a lady's heart is through cross words?

Do you want my heart? Oh greedy man! you already have a wife, and flirt, and now you want to capture my heart too?
(and am i not still married?-- i thought Ck and i were married.. would you want to make him a cuckhold? though, i will admit things are not working out as i expected.. not a single credit card to date! )

Please don't pine for me.. unrequited love's a bore!

>>The way to a lady's heart is through cross words?
Nay, nay, Helen. I would never demean you with cross words!