DE MESNE Meaning and
Definition
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De mesne is a legal term that derives from the Latin phrase "de medio," meaning "in the middle" or "in between." In legal contexts, de mesne refers to a status or position that operates between two other positions, often pertaining to the relationship between an individual and the authority above them.
Specifically, de mesne refers to a feudal lord or landowner who holds land from a superior lord while also granting portions of that land to inferior tenants. This intermediate landholder acts as a mediator between the ultimate superior lord and the tenants occupying the land. Hence, de mesne relates to someone who holds land in a sub-infeudation arrangement, with both superior and inferior relationships.
Furthermore, de mesne can also describe a legal process in which a property or estate is held by an individual temporarily during the probate of a deceased owner's will, before it is transferred to the rightful beneficiary. In this context, the individual holding the property de mesne is acting as an intermediary or temporary custodian until the legal matters are settled.
Overall, de mesne is a term commonly used in medieval English feudal law and property systems, describing a person who holds land from a superior lord while also granting portions of it to inferior tenants, or an intermediary holding property temporarily during probate.
Common Misspellings for DE MESNE
- demeane
- demene
- demesne
- se mesne
- xe mesne
- ce mesne
- fe mesne
- re mesne
- ee mesne
- dw mesne
- ds mesne
- dd mesne
- dr mesne
- d4 mesne
- d3 mesne
- de nesne
- de kesne
- de jesne
- de mwsne
- de mssne
Etymology of DE MESNE
The word "de mesne" comes from the Old French phrase "de mein", which means "of middle" or "in the middle". This phrase was derived from the Latin word "medius", meaning "middle" or "in the middle". In English, it became "de mesne" around the 15th century and was primarily used in legal contexts to refer to a person who holds land as a lord or tenant in the middle, between the actual owner and the occupant. Over time, the term "de mesne" has become less commonly used and has been largely replaced by other terms in modern legal language.
