Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • intransitive verb To relinquish (an office or function).
  • intransitive verb Archaic To dismiss.
  • intransitive verb To give up an office or position; resign.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To lower; cause to droop or hang down; depress.
  • To submit; humble.
  • To let go; dismiss.
  • To lay down formally, as an office; resign; relinquish; transfer.
  • noun An act of demission or transfer of membership, as from one masonic lodge to another; also, the letter which officially certifies to such a transfer.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • transitive verb rare To let fall; to depress.
  • transitive verb rare To yield or submit; to humble; to lower.
  • transitive verb Scot. To lay down, as an office; to resign.
  • intransitive verb To lay down or relinquish an office, membership, authority, or the like; to resign, as from a Masonic lodge; -- generally used with an implication that the act is voluntary.
  • noun The act of demitting; also, a letter, certificate, or the like, certifying that a person has (honorably) demitted, as from a Masonic lodge.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb transitive To let fall; to depress; to yield.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English dimitten, to release, from Old French demettre, from Latin dīmittere : dis-, away; see dis– + mittere, to send.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Latin dēmittō ("send or bring down, let fall").

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Examples

  • AWWWW — Wondering how old demit is feeling about his waterloo i am sure our President can tell him how he ` s feels from Nelsons view. guess the French did the repugs in once again.

    Think Progress » ThinkFast: March 22, 2010 2010

  • Anyway, the truth will come out and the man will, I think, eventually demit office.

    Sanford to hold press conference 2009

  • Having bid farewell to Iain Gray at the end of the last session in suitably supercilious tones the Labour leader having announced his intention to demit office, the first minister will have the same look on his face that he normally reserves for his favourite chicken tikka masala.

    Come on, someone must want to lead Labour | Kevin McKenna 2011

  • We but desire to know if, on assurance of life and honour, ye will demit the rule of this kingdom of

    The Abbot 2008

  • Wherefore I have resolved to demit this mine high office, so that the order of these matters may presently devolve upon Father Eustatius here present, our well-beloved

    The Monastery 2008

  • The Kumaris - selected from the caste of silversmiths after having passed a series of spiritual tests including the terrifying one of spending a night alone in a dark room with the severed head of a buffalo - are anointed in early childhood and demit their divine office at the first sign of puberty.

    Archive 2008-01-01 Jan 2008

  • By approving an amendment to the constitution to extend presidential terms in office from six to seven years and allow for unlimited “elections for life” these reforms are designed to keep Mr. Chavez in power and ensure that if and when he decides to demit office he will hand-pick a successor thus guaranteeing that he will never be held accountable for excesses committed while in office.

    Mr. Chavez's 'Pseudo Socialism' 2007

  • Yas suh, dey had to have a demit to go any place outside work hours.

    Slave Narratives: a Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves Arkansas Narratives, Part 3 Work Projects Administration

  • Tulchan system by abolishing the Episcopate and requiring all bishops to demit their office and give in their submission to the provincial synods.

    Andrew Melville Famous Scots Series William Morison

  • If his worship uses this form of procedure often, I advise him to get another clerk, that's all, for I shall certainly demit. ''

    Rob Roy 1887

Comments

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  • Timed in reverse.

    July 22, 2007

  • What news to include and what omit?

    We can't say the boss was unfit.

    We won't say he's fired

    But that he grew tired

    And reluctantly chose to demit.

    February 6, 2015