denouement

Or dé·noue·ment

[dey-noo-mahn]

noun

1. the final resolution of the intricacies of a plot, as of a drama or novel.

2. the place in the plot at which this occurs.

3. the outcome or resolution of a doubtful series of occurrences.

   Synonyms: upshot, end, conclusion, solution

denouement

/ deɪˈnuːmɒn, denumɑ̃ /

noun

1. 1. the final clarification or resolution of a plot in a play or other work

   2. the point at which this occurs

2. final outcome; solution

dénouement

1. The solution or outcome of the plot of a play or novel: “In the dénouement of many tragedies, the main character dies.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of denouement¹

First recorded in 1745–55; from French: literally, “an untying,” equivalent to dénouer “to untie,” Old French desnoer ( des- + noer “to knot,” from Latin nōdāre, derivative of nōdus “knot”) + -ment; de-, -ment

Word History and Origins

Origin of denouement¹

C18: from French, literally: an untying, from dénouer to untie, from Old French desnoer, from des- _de- + noer to tie, knot, from Latin nōdāre, from nōdus a knot; see _node

Related Words

• climax 
• culmination 
• finale