DOWNFALL

downfall, ruin, ruination

(noun) failure that results in a loss of position or reputation

fall, downfall

(noun) a sudden decline in strength or number or importance; “the fall of the House of Hapsburg”

precipitation, downfall

(noun) the falling to earth of any form of water (rain or snow or hail or sleet or mist)

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

downfall (countable and uncountable, plural downfalls)

A precipitous decline in fortune; death or rapid deterioration, as in status or wealth.

Synonyms: fall (precipitous decline in fortune), doom (death or rapid deterioration)

The cause of such a fall; a critical blow or error.

• Orson Scott Card

An act of falling down.

Verb

downfall (third-person singular simple present downfalls, present participle downfalling, simple past downfell, past participle downfallen)

(intransitive) To fall down; deteriorate; decline.

Anagrams

• Wolfland, fall down, landfowl

Source: Wiktionary

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.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition