Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Demote \De*mote"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Demoted}; p. pr. & vb.
   n. {Demoting}.] [Pref. de- + mote, as in promote; cf. L.
   demovere to remove.]
   To reduce to a lower grade, as in school.