Basic Details
Word: Demise
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: The end or failure of something, especially the death of a person or the downfall of an institution or idea.
Synonyms: Death, passing, downfall, extinction
Antonyms: Birth, beginning, rise, emergence
Idioms and Phrases
- Meet one's demise: A formal or literary way to say someone has died. Example: "The hero met his demise in the final battle."
- Signal the demise of: Indicating the end or failure of something. Example: "The rise of digital media signaled the demise of many print newspapers."
Usage Examples
Example 1: The sudden demise of the CEO left the company in turmoil.
Example 2: Many ancient civilizations faced a mysterious demise.
Example 3: The demise of the project was due to poor planning and lack of funds.
Fun Fact
The word "demise" originally comes from the Latin word *dimittere*, meaning "to send away" or "dismiss." In legal terms, it also refers to the transfer of an estate by lease or will.
Famous Quote
"The death of one man is a tragedy. The death of millions is a statistic." Joseph Stalin (often referenced to illustrate the weight and perception of demise on different scales)
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "demise" mean?
a) A celebration
b) A start
c) An end or death
d) A journey
Answer: c) An end or death
2. Which of these is a synonym of "demise"?
a) Birth
b) Downfall
c) Growth
d) Start
Answer: b) Downfall
3. Which is an antonym of "demise"?
a) Extinction
b) Death
c) Beginning
d) Collapse
Answer: c) Beginning
4. Which sentence uses "demise" correctly?
a) She celebrated her demise with cake and music.
b) The demise of the character shocked readers.
c) They demise their homework every evening.
d) His demise won him a promotion.
Answer: b) The demise of the character shocked readers.
5. What does the idiom "meet one's demise" mean?
a) To attend a meeting
b) To face the consequences
c) To die
d) To get promoted
Answer: c) To die
