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.
Demise and redemise,
a conveyance where there are mutual leases made from one to another of the
same land, or something out of it.
Syn. — Death; decease; departure. See Death.
Demise
(De*mise"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Demised ; p. pr. & vb. n. Demising.]
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, by lease; to lease.
Demisemiquaver
(Dem`i*sem"i*qua`ver) n. (Mus.) A short note, equal in time to the half of a semiquaver,
or the thirty-second part of a whole note.
Demiss
(De*miss") a. [L. demissus, p. p. of demittere.] Cast down; humble; submissive. [Obs.]
He down descended like a most demiss
And abject thrall.
Spenser. Demission
(De*mis"sion) n. [L. demissio, fr. demittere. See Demit.]
1. The act of demitting, or the state of being demitted; a letting down; a lowering; dejection. "Demission of
mind." Hammond.
Demission of sovereign authority.
L'Estrange. 2. Resignation of an office. [Scot.]
Demissionary
(De*mis"sion*a*ry) a.
1. Pertaining to transfer or conveyance; as, a demissionary deed.
2. Tending to lower, depress, or degrade.
Demissive
(De*miss"ive) a. [See Demiss.] Downcast; submissive; humble. [R.]
They pray with demissive eyelids.
Lord