denouement Hear it!

denouement Definition

de·noue·ment (dā′no̵̅o̅ män)

noun

  1. the outcome, solution, unraveling, or clarification of a plot in a drama, story, etc.
  2. the point in the plot where this occurs
  3. any final revelation or outcome

Etymology: Fr < dénouer, to untie < dé- (L dis-), from, out + nouer, to tie < L nodare, to knot < nodus, a knot: see node

denouement Synonyms

denouement

n.

denouement Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • story: The denouement of the story is, ahem, the Chelsea Flower Show!
  • film: And that's obviously what the denouement of the film is about.

Possessives

  • story: There are, I think, a number of problems with the story's denouement.
  • book: This skill becomes important at the book's denouement which, it must be said, is not wholly convincing.

Converse of object

  • provide: Typically Wilson provides a denouement that is truly strange and unexpected.
  • reach: Janey challenges her mother for the attentions of Cady until the struggle for control reaches a tragic denouement.
  • have: Unusually, the play has yet another denouement; perhaps more important than the revelation of Cassie's affair with Michael.
  • see: Surely you want to see the denouement of Wayne Rooney's Foot?
  • horrify: In this horrifying denouement resulting from the clash of multiple perspectives, the audience confronts the dead, wounded, and defiant.
  • reveal: I've been asked not to reveal the final denouement but this tense thriller will keep you guessing right to the end.

Adjective modifier

  • tragic: Janey challenges her mother for the attentions of Cady until the struggle for control reaches a tragic denouement.
  • final: With the shares beating a swift passage south, the final denouement started at a board meeting on August 12.
  • shocking: Be prepared for blood curdling shrieks and shocking denouements.
  • dramatic: There are many twists and turns and a dramatic denouement at the end.
  • unexpected: To how many questions did this unexpected denouement give rise?
  • grand: But they stopped it before the grand denouement, before George fed his amazing concoction to his granny.

Modifies a noun

  • profile: Lastly, this 'gestalt overview ' or VLE denouement profile is compared to a set of theoretical design principles.