demise

[dɪˈmaɪz]

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A person's demise refers to their death or passing away.

The word "demise" can sound a bit formal and dramatic, but it's actually quite common in everyday conversation. When someone says that a friend has met their demise, they're simply saying that the person has died. This phrase is often used in situations where you want to be polite about the fact of death, like when talking about a celebrity or a historical figure who has passed away. For example, "The famous actor's demise was a shock to fans around the world." In this case, "demise" is being used as a fancy way of saying that someone died.

How common is "demise"?

Word demise is considered uncommon in modern English.
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.

Definitions

noun

The conveyance or transfer of an estate, either in fee for life or for years, most commonly the latter.
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.
Death.
The end of something, in a negative sense; downfall.
Example: The lack of funding ultimately led to the project's demise.

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verb

To give.
To convey, as by will or lease.
To transmit by inheritance.
To pass by inheritance.
To die.

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Real examples of "demise" in context

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demise

How common is "demise"?

noun

verb

Real examples of "demise" in context

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