denouement

or dé·noue·ment

[ dey-noo-mahn ]
/ ˌdeɪ nuˈmɑ̃ /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR denouement ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the final resolution of the intricacies of a plot, as of a drama or novel.
the place in the plot at which this occurs.
the outcome or resolution of a doubtful series of occurrences.

Origin of denouement

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

Words nearby denouement

denominator, denotation, denotative, denote, denotive, denouement, denounce, denpasar, dens, dens in dente, dense

Words related to denouement

culmination, climax, finale, completion, end, close, resolution, conclusion, windup

Example sentences from the Web for denouement

British Dictionary definitions for denouement

denouement

dnouement (French denumɑ̃)

/ (deɪˈnuːmɒn) /

noun

  1. the final clarification or resolution of a plot in a play or other work
  2. the point at which this occurs
final outcome; solution

Word Origin for denouement

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

Cultural definitions for denouement

dénouement
[ (day-nooh-mahnn) ]

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