in its popular sense, denotes a calling for or requiring one's due.

in law, has a more special signification, as contradistinguished from plaint: for all civil actions are pursued either by demands or plaints; according to which the pursuer is called either demandant or plaintiff; viz. in real actions, demandant; and in personal actions, plaintiff. See PLAINTIFF.

There are two kinds of demands: the one in deed, de facto, as in every precise; the other in law, de jure; such is entry in land, distress for rent, &c.