demise
Meaning
The end or failure of an institution, an idea, or a company.
A person's death.
Structure
Usage
The scandal ultimately led to the demise of his political career.
She inherited the estate upon the demise of her uncle.
The company could not recover from the financial crisis and met its demise.
Etymology
The word 'demise' entered English in the late Middle English period via Anglo-French and Old French, where 'demis' (feminine 'demise') was the past participle of 'demettre,' meaning "to dismiss" or "to put away." This Old French term was a direct descendant of the Latin 'dimittere,' composed of 'de-' (away) and 'mittere' (to send). Its original legal sense was "to transfer or convey (an estate or title)," particularly by will or lease, which carried the connotation of "sending away" one's property. Over time, this specific legal transfer, especially of a sovereign's title upon death, led to the word's primary modern meanings: a formal term for death and, by extension, the end or termination of anything.
Analysis
'de-' is a Latin prefix meaning "down, away, off." '-mise' originates from the Latin verb 'mittere,' meaning "to send, to put, to let go," which evolved into Old French forms like 'mettre' (to put) and 'mise' (a putting).