First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
1demise
verb de·mise \di-ˈmīz\
de·misedde·mis·ing
Definition of DEMISE
transitive verb
1
: to convey (as an estate) by will or lease
3
: to transmit by succession or inheritance
intransitive verb
2
: to pass by descent or bequest <the property has demised to the king's heirs>
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Origin of DEMISE
(see 2demise)
Related to DEMISE
Rhymes with DEMISE
abscise, advise, apprise, apprize, arise, assize, baptize, bite-size, breadthwise, capsize, chastise, clockwise, coastwise, cognize, comprise, crabwise, crack wise, crosswise, despise, devise, disguise, disprize, door prize, downsize, earthrise, edgewise, emprise, endwise, excise, fanwise, franchise, full-size, grecize, high-rise, incise, king-size, leastwise, lengthwise, Levi's, life-size, likewise, low-rise, man-size, mid-rise, midsize, misprize, moonrise, nowise, outsize, piecewise, pint-size, premise, quantize, queen-size, remise, reprise, revise, rightsize, slantwise, streetwise, stylize, suffice, sunrise, surmise, surprise, trim size, twin-size, unwise, uprise
2demise
noun de·mise \di-ˈmīz\
: an end of life
: the end of something that is thought of as being like a death
Full Definition of DEMISE
1
: the conveyance of an estate
2
: transfer of the sovereignty to a successor
See demise defined for English-language learners
See demise defined for kids
Examples of DEMISE
- … invited visitors to play a game in which points are awarded to those who predict the demise of yet another overhyped dot-com. —Jeff Goodell, Rolling Stone, 14 Sept. 2000
- This elegant little book is essential reading for anyone interested in the demise, the terminal silliness, of our culture. —John Irving, New York Times Book Review, 6 Apr. 1997
- Like books, board games appear headed for imminent demise at the hands of cathode-ray terminals. —Will Manley, Booklist, 1 Mar. 1995
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Origin of DEMISE
Middle English dimise, from Anglo-French demise, feminine of demis, past participle of demettre to dismiss, from Latin demittere to send down, from de- + mittere to send
First Known Use: 15th century
DEMISED Defined for Kids
demise
noun de·mise \di-ˈmīz\
Definition of DEMISE for Kids
1
: death 1 <And often the court waited until the demise of two or three potters before searching out their replacements. — Linda Sue Park, A Single Shard>
2
: an ending of existence or activity <the demise of a newspaper>
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