demised

noun

1. death or decease.
2. termination of existence or operation: the demise of the empire.
3. Law.
   1. a death or decease occasioning the transfer of an estate.
   2. a conveyance or transfer of an estate.
4. Government. transfer of sovereignty, as by the death or deposition of the sovereign.

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

5. Law. to transfer (an estate or the like) for a limited time; lease.
6. Government. to transfer (sovereignty), as by the death or abdication of the sovereign.

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

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

noun

1. failure or terminationthe demise of one’s hopes
2. a euphemistic or formal word for death
3. property law
   1. a transfer of an estate by lease
   2. the passing or transfer of an estate on the death of the owner
4. 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

5. to transfer or be transferred by inheritance, will, or succession
6. (tr) property law to transfer (an estate, etc) for a limited period; lease
7. (tr) to transfer (sovereignty, a title, etc) by or as if by the death, deposition, etc, of a ruler

n.

mid-15c., from Middle French demise, fem. past participle of démettre “dismiss, put away,” from des- “away” (from Latin dis-) + Middle French mettre “put,” from Latin mittere “let go, send” (see mission). Originally “transfer of estate by will,” meaning extended 1754 to “death” because that’s when this happens.