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downfall

   Also found in: Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.01 sec.
down·fall  (dounfôl)
n.
1.
a. A sudden loss of wealth, rank, reputation, or happiness; ruin.
b. A cause of sudden ruin.
2. A fall of rain or snow, especially a heavy or unexpected one.

downfall
Noun
1. a sudden loss of position or reputation
2. the cause of this
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.downfalldownfall - failure that results in a loss of position or reputation
failure - an event that does not accomplish its intended purpose; "the surprise party was a complete failure"
finish - the downfall of someone (as of persons on one side of a conflict); "booze will be the finish of him"; "it was a fight to the finish"
2.downfall - the falling to earth of any form of water (rain or snow or hail or sleet or mist)
fine spray - precipitation in very small drops
hail - precipitation of ice pellets when there are strong rising air currents
rain, rainfall - water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
sleet - partially melted snow (or a mixture of rain and snow)
snow, snowfall - precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
virga - light wispy precipitation that evaporates before it reaches the ground (especially when the lower air is low in humidity)
atmospheric condition, weather, weather condition, conditions - the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation; "they were hoping for good weather"; "every day we have weather conditions and yesterday was no exception"; "the conditions were too rainy for playing in the snow"
3.downfall - a sudden decline in strength or number or importance; "the fall of the House of Hapsburg"
weakening - becoming weaker
anticlimax - a disappointing decline after a previous rise; "the anticlimax of a brilliant career"

downfall
Translations
Spanish downfall [ˈdaunfɔːl] ncaída, ruina
French downfall [ˈdaunfɔːl] down nchute f; ruine f
German downfall [ˈdaunfɔːl] down nRuin m;
(of dictator etc) → Sturz m, Fall m

Italian downfall [ˈdaunfɔːl] ncaduta; rovina

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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
Nor, again, should the downfall of the utter villain be exhibited.
The Northwest Company had made a second memorial to that government, representing Astoria as an American establishment, stating the vast scope of its contemplated operations, magnifying the strength of its fortifications, and expressing their fears that, unless crushed in the bud, it would effect the downfall of their trade.
The direct consequence of the battle of Borodino was Napoleon's senseless flight from Moscow, his retreat along the old Smolensk road, the destruction of the invading army of five hundred thousand men, and the downfall of Napoleonic France, on which at Borodino for the first time the hand of an opponent of stronger spirit had been laid.
 
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