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downfall - 3 dictionary results

down⋅fall

  [doun-fawl]
Use downfall in a Sentence
–noun
1. descent to a lower position or standing; overthrow; ruin.
2. something causing ruin, failure, etc.: Liquor was his downfall.
3. a fall, as of rain, snow, or the like, often sudden or heavy.
4. a trap using a falling weight for killing, injuring, or imprisoning the prey.
Origin:
1250–1300; ME; see down 1 , fall

Related forms:
downfallen, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To downfall
down·fall   (doun'fôl')   
n.  
    1. A sudden loss of wealth, rank, reputation, or happiness; ruin.
    2. A cause of sudden ruin.
  2. A fall of rain or snow, especially a heavy or unexpected one.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Downfall

Down"fall`\, n. 1. A sudden fall; a body of things falling.

Those cataracts or downfalls aforesaid. --Holland.

Each downfall of a flood the mountains pour. --Dryden.

2. A sudden descent from rank or state, reputation or happiness; destruction; ruin.

Dire were the consequences which would follow the downfall of so important a place. --Motley.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : downfall
Spanish: ruina,
German: der Untergang,
Japanese: 没落
More Translations »
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