Meanings

forever

tip of a twig

to have the honour of being present (at a meeting, etc.)

last day (of a month)

last but not least

top end

hour of death

spreading out like an open fan

subordinate shrine

degenerate age

all ages to come

sect

pessimism due to decadent-age theory

end of a period

poor workmanship

the last paragraph

fruit grown near the tip of the vine (hence stunted and unripe)

end

underling

end of term