Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Demise

Demise , noun

[French démettre, p. p. démis, démise, to put away, lay down; pref. dé- (Latin de or dis-) + mettre to put, place, lay, from Latin mittere to send. See Mission, and compare 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

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.

Collocations (1)
Demise and redemise , a conveyance where there are mutual leases made from one to another of the same land, or something out of it.

Demise , transitive verb

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? — Shakespeare
2.
To convey; to give. [Rare]
His soul is at his conception demised to him. — Hammond
3.
(Law) To convey, as an estate, by lease; to lease.