Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Demise \De*mise"\, n. [F. d['e]mettre, p. p. d['e]mis,
   d['e]mise, to put away, lay down; pref. d['e]- (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.

   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) 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}.