Part 148

P. Cunningham.

3. (Law) The conveyance or transfer of an estate, either in fee for life or for years, most commonly the latter. Bouvier.

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.

De*mise", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Demised (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Demising.] 1. To transfer or transmit by succession or inheritance; to grant or bestow by will; to bequeath. "Power to demise my lands." Swift.

What honor Canst thou demise to any child of mine?

Shak.

2. To convey; to give. [R.]

His soul is at his conception demised to him.

Hammond.

3. (Law) To convey, as an estate, by lease; to lease.

Dem`i*sem"i*qua`ver (?), n. (Mus.) A short note, equal in time to the half of a semiquaver, or the thirty-second part of a whole note.

De*miss" (?), a. [L. demissus, p. p. of demittere.] Cast down; humble; submissive. [Obs.]

He down descended like a most demiss And abject thrall.

Spenser.

De*mis"sion (?), n. [L. demissio, fr. demittere. See Demit.] 1. The act of demitting, or the state of being demitted; a letting down; a lowering; dejection. "Demission of mind." Hammond.

Demission of sovereign authority.

L'Estrange.

2. Resignation of an office. [Scot.]

De*mis"sion*a*ry (?), a. 1. Pertaining to transfer or conveyance; as, a demissionary deed.

2. Tending to lower, depress, or degrade.

De*miss"ive (?), a. [See Demiss.] Downcast; submissive; humble. [R.]

They pray with demissive eyelids.

Lord (1630).

De*miss"ly, adv. In a humble manner. [Obs.]

Dem"i*suit` (?), n. (Mil. Antiq.) A suit of light armor covering less than the whole body, as having no protection for the legs below the thighs, no vizor to the helmet, and the like.

De*mit" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Demitted; p. pr. & vb. n. Demitting.] [L. demittere to send or bring down, to lower; de- + mittere to send. Cf. Demise.] 1. To let fall; to depress. [R.]