Related Searches
Nearby Words
Synonyms

dénouement

 [dey-noo-mahn]   Example Sentences Origin

de·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.
Also, dé·noue·ment.

Origin:
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

Synonyms
3. solution, conclusion, end, upshot.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To dénouement

:10

:09

:08

:07

:06

:05

:04

:03

:02

:01

Dénouement is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
Example Sentences
  • As yet, the denouement remains unwritten.
  • He doesn't buy the standard Hollywood story arc that culminates in a feel-good denouement.
  • But when the denouement comes our eyes widen in astonishment.
EXPAND
Collins
World English Dictionary
denouement or French dénouement (deɪˈnuːmɒn, denumɑ̃)
 
—n
1.  a.  the final clarification or resolution of a plot in a play or other work
 b.  the point at which this occurs
2.  final outcome; solution
 
[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]
 
dénouement or French dénouement
 
—n
 
[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]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

denouement
1752, from Fr. dénouement "an untying" (of plot), from dénouer "untie," from O.Fr. desnouer, from des- "un-, out" (from L. dis-) + nouer "to tie, knot" (from L. nodus "a knot").
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Cultural Dictionary
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.”

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Partners:WordBloglinesCitysearchThe Daily BeastAsk AnswersAsk KidsLife123SendoriThesaurus
Dictionary.com, LLC. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved.
About Privacy Policy Terms of Use API Careers Advertise with Us Contact Us Help
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT
How many words do you know? FIND OUT