In the feudal system, demesne (also spelled desmesne; pronounced /dəmeɪn/ [dih-MANE] or /dəmiːn/ [dih-MEEN]; via Old French demeine from Latin dominium) was all the land, not necessarily all contiguous to the manor house, that was retained by a lord for his own use - as distinguished from land "alienated" or granted to others (alieni) as freehold tenants. Initially the demesne lands were worked on the lord's behalf by villeins or by serfs, in fulfillment of their feud… (More on Demesne)