Demaunden

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. An archaic verb meaning to put a question or make an inquiry to someone ; to insist on receiving something one considers rightfully owed
2. Used in Middle English to mean asking after information ; in the same sense, to lay a firm claim to something as one's due
3. A medieval term for questioning someone or seeking knowledge ; also for making a forceful claim or requirement on what is owed

Etymology: Romans used "demandare" to mean "to hand over" or "to entrust." It was built from "de-" and "mandare," meaning "to order" or "to commit to someone's charge," and "mandare" itself came from "manus," hand, plus "dare," to give. A command was, originally, something placed into another person's hand. In Old French the form became "demander," and its sense moved toward asking and insisting, a request for something to be handed over. English took the word from French in the Middle English period, when it appeared as "demaunden," with a vowel and ending the modern spelling later dropped. The meaning of giving over became a meaning of claiming.