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.
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)
Defn: The conveyance or transfer of an estate, either in fee for life or for years, most commonly the latter. Bouvier.
Note: 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)