demise

Etymology

From Latin demissa, feminine singular of perfect passive participle of dēmittō, apparently via Middle French démise, the feminine singular past participle of démettre.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /dɪˈmaɪz/

Noun

demise (plural demises)

1. (law) The conveyance or transfer of an estate, either in fee for life or for years, most commonly the latter.
2. Transmission by formal act or conveyance to an heir or successor; transference; especially, the transfer or transmission of the crown or royal authority to a successor.
3. Death.
4. The end of something, in a negative sense; downfall.

   The lack of funding ultimately led to the demise of the project.

Verb

demise (third-person singular simple present demises, present participle demising, simple past and past participle demised)

1. (transitive, obsolete, law) To give.
2. (transitive, law) To convey, as by will or lease.
3. (transitive, law) To transmit by inheritance.
4. (intransitive, law) To pass by inheritance.
5. (intransitive) To die.

Anagrams

• Medise, demies, medise

Etymology

From French démission, from Latin dēmissiō, from dēmittō.

Noun

demise f

1. resignation, abdication

Related terms

• See mise