n. [ 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. ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The decease of a royal or princely person; hence, also, the death of any illustrious person. [ 1913 Webster ]

After the demise of the Queen [ of George II. ], in 1737, they [ drawing- rooms ] were held but twice a week. P. Cunningham. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Law) The conveyance or transfer of an estate, either in fee for life or for years, most commonly the latter. Bouvier. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

What honor
Canst thou demise to any child of mine? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To convey; to give. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

His soul is at his conception demised to him. Hammond. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Law) To convey, as an estate, by lease; to lease. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Mus.) A short note, equal in time to the half of a semiquaver, or the thirty-second part of a whole note. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To demise back; to convey or transfer back, as an estate. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Law) The transfer of an estate back to the person who demised it; reconveyance; as, the demise and redemise of an estate. See under Demise. [ 1913 Webster ]