demise Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the time when something ends
    death; dying.
    • it was the death of all his plans
    • a dying of old hopes
  2. verb transfer by a lease or by a will

WordNet

De*mise" noun
Etymology
F. démettre, p. p. démis, démise, to put away, lay down; pref. dé- (L. de or dis-) + mettre to put, place, lay, fr. L. mittere to send. See Mission, and cf. Dismiss, Demit.
Definitions
  1. 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.
  2. The decease of a royal or princely person; hence, also, the death of any illustrious person.
    After the demise of the Queen [of George II.], in 1737, they [drawing-rooms] were held but twice a week. P. Cunningham.
  3. (Law) The conveyance or transfer of an estate, either in fee for life or for years, most commonly the latter. Bouvier. ✍ The demise of the crown is a transfer of the crown, royal authority, or kingdom, to a successor. Thus, when Edward IV. was driven from his throne for a few months by the house of Lancaster, this temporary transfer of his dignity was called a demise. Thus the natural death of a king or queen came to be denominated a demise, as by that event the crown is transferred to a successor. Blackstone. Syn. -- Death; decease; departure. See Death.
De*mise" transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Demised ; present participle & verbal noun Demising
Definitions
  1. To transfer or transmit by succession or inheritance; to grant or bestow by will; to bequeath. "Power to demise my lands." Swift.
    What honor Canst thou demise to any child of mine? Shak.
  2. To convey; to give. R.
    His soul is at his conception demised to him. Hammond.
  3. (Law) To convey, as an estate, be lease; to lease.

Webster 1913