demise

Demise is a term with several related meanings in English. It most commonly denotes death or the end of existence, often used in formal or literary contexts: “the demise of a once mighty empire.” In legal and real estate usage, demise refers to the transfer of an estate in land by lease. In this sense, a landlord demises the property to a tenant, and the tenant holds a demise or leasehold interest. The demiser is the grantor, and the demised asset is the demised premises.

Etymology: The word comes from Old French demise, meaning delivery or surrender, ultimately from Latin dimittere “to send away.” The sense “death” arose in Middle English as a euphemism and then broadened metaphorically to end or termination.

Usage notes: Because of its formal tone, demise appears in legal documents and formal journalism. It can describe the end of a person or institution and is often preferred to more blunt terms. In maritime law, a demise charter is a contract by which the shipowner leases possession and management of a vessel to a charterer for a period, with the charterer using the ship as if they owned it for the term.