Demise
/dɪˈmaɪz/
Definitions
2 meaningsThe end of a person's life; death.
/dɪˈmaɪz/
A person's death.
The queen's demise was mourned by the entire nation.
💡 Simply: Imagine your grandma, a really sweet person, passed away. Sadly, her 'demise' means the day she died.
👶 For kids: When someone dies, that's called their demise.
More Examples
The company faced demise after losing its major client.
The movie's plot revolved around the mysterious demise of the wealthy industrialist.
How It's Used
"The will was read after the demise of the testator."
"The demise of the hero was the climax of the tragedy."
The end or failure of something; the decline.
/dɪˈmaɪz/
The end of something.
The demise of the dinosaurs remains a mystery.
💡 Simply: Think of it like the end of something. Like when your favorite ice cream store closes down. That's the 'demise' of a sweet treat place.
👶 For kids: When something stops working or goes away, that's its demise.
More Examples
The city witnessed the demise of many small businesses due to the economic downturn.
The newspaper reported on the demise of the long-standing tradition.
How It's Used
"The demise of the old business model was evident with the rise of online platforms."
"The cultural demise followed a period of decline."
From Old French *demise* (“death, decease”), from *demettre* (“to dismiss, give up”), from Latin *dimittere* (“to send away, dismiss”), from *dis-* (“away”) + *mittere* (“to send”).
The word 'demise' was frequently used in historical texts to refer to death, particularly of royalty or important figures. It implied a formal tone and was a common term in legal and religious writings.
Memory tip
Think of 'de-mise,' meaning the *removal* of life's 'mission'.
Word Origin
"To send away; to dismiss"