Noun

(en 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.

* {{quote-book, i2=*:

, year=1960 , author= , title=(Jeeves in the Offing) , section=chapter III , passage=I could spot no friendly native to tell me where I might find Bobbie. I proceeded, therefore, to roam hither and thither about the grounds and messuages in the hope of locating her, wishing that I had a couple of bloodhounds to aid me in my task, for the Travers demesne is a spacious one and there was a considerable amount of sunshine above, though none, I need scarcely mention, in my heart.}}

* {{quote-book, i2=*:

, year=1962 , author=(Vladimir Nabokov) , title=(Pale Fire) , section=Commentary, note to lines 993-995 , passage=One minute before his death, as we were crossing from his demesne to mine and had begun working up between the junipers and ornamental shrubs, a Red Admirable (see note to line 270) came dizzily whirling around us like a colored flame.}}

A region or area; a domain.

* 1816, , lines 5-6

Oft of one wide expanse had I been told
That deep-brow'd Homer ruled as his demesne ;

Noun

(en noun)

(legal) The conveyance or transfer of an estate, either in fee for life or for years, most commonly the latter.

Transmission by formal act or conveyance to an heir or successor; transference; especially, the transfer or transmission of the crown or royal authority to a successor.

Death.

End (less common, usually in a negative manner).

The lack of funding ultimately led to the demise of the project.