A sudden loss of power, success, or status, especially after a period of being strong or important. It can also mean something that causes this fall.
A compound of 'down' + 'fall', formed in Middle English. Both parts are of Old English origin. The word literally pictures someone or something falling down from a high position.
Stories love downfalls because they show how fragile success really is—one mistake, one weakness, and the mighty can collapse. Often a person's strengths contribute to their downfall: ambition becomes greed, confidence becomes arrogance. The word hints that falling is built into rising.
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