demise

[ dih-mahyz ]

/ dɪˈmaɪz /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR demise ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

death or decease.

termination of existence or operation: the demise of the empire.

Law.

a death or decease occasioning the transfer of an estate.
a conveyance or transfer of an estate.

Government. transfer of sovereignty, as by the death or deposition of the sovereign.

verb (used with object), de·mised, de·mis·ing.

Law. to transfer (an estate or the like) for a limited time; lease.

Government. to transfer (sovereignty), as by the death or abdication of the sovereign.

verb (used without object), de·mised, de·mis·ing.

Law. to pass by bequest, inheritance, or succession.

Nearby words

demipique, demiquaver, demirel, demirelief, demirep, demise, demisemiquaver, demission, demist, demister, demit

Origin of demise

1400–50; late Middle English dimis(s)e, demise < Old French demis (past participle of desmetre) < Latin dīmissum (past participle of dīmittere); see demit¹, dismiss

Related forms

de·mis·a·bil·i·ty, nounde·mis·a·ble, adjectivenon·de·mise, nounun·de·mised, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for demise

Such statements are rare, as the Guards routinely avoid going public with news about the demise of one of their commanders.
What an Iranian Funeral Tells Us About the Wars in Iraq|IranWire|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Were they innocent victims or did they conduct themselves in a manner that would naturally lead to their demise?
The Post-Brown and Garner Question: Who ‘Deserves’ to Die?|Goldie Taylor|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It was sad that my first visit to Court Green, which Sylvia had described so enthusiastically, should be after her demise.
Ted Hughes’s Brother on Losing Sylvia Plath|Gerald Hughes|December 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the film, Turner begins to think about how his work will be seen after his demise.
Mike Leigh Is the Master Filmmaker Who Hates Hollywood|Nico Hines|October 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The country that once sought to slaughter Paul was devastated by his demise.
The Amazing Tale of Paul the Psychic Octopus: Germany’s World Cup Soothsayer|Emily Shire|July 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"Yes, you say, just as if you were thinking of your grandfather's demise," remarked one of his neighbors.
The Magic Skin|Honore de Balzac
The demise of intellectual property has lately become abundantly clear.
After the Rain|Sam Vaknin
They sought his advice on all important matters, and in his demise they realize that the State has sustained an irreparable loss.
The Nation Behind Prison Bars|George L. Herr
Had he, indeed, an honorable scruple of engaging her upon the uncertainty of his uncle's demise.
Modern Flirtations|Catherine Sinclair
On the demise of her husband, the widow quitted her town house, and took up her abode with her child at the old hall.
The Manchester Rebels of the Fatal '45|William Harrison Ainsworth

British Dictionary definitions for demise

demise

/ (dɪˈmaɪz) /

noun

failure or terminationthe demise of one's hopes

a euphemistic or formal word for death

property law

a transfer of an estate by lease
the passing or transfer of an estate on the death of the owner

the immediate transfer of sovereignty to a successor upon the death, abdication, etc, of a ruler (esp in the phrase demise of the crown)

verb

to transfer or be transferred by inheritance, will, or succession

(tr) property law to transfer (an estate, etc) for a limited period; lease

(tr) to transfer (sovereignty, a title, etc) by or as if by the death, deposition, etc, of a ruler

Derived Forms

demisable, adjective

Word Origin for demise

C16: from Old French, feminine of demis dismissed, from demettre to send away, from Latin dīmittere; see dismiss

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012