denouement
noun
The final part of a play, movie, or narrative in which the strands of the plot are drawn together and matters are explained or resolved.
Etymology
From French "dénouement" (untying), from "dénouer" (to untie), from "dé" (un-) + "nouer" (to tie), from Latin "nodus" (knot). The plot's knots are untied.
Examples in Use
- 1.
"The denouement revealed that the butler was the murderer all along."
- 2.
"After the climax, the denouement tied up all loose ends."
- 3.
"Critics felt the denouement was rushed and unsatisfying."
Related Vocabulary
Synonyms
Related Words
Fun Fact
Aristotle identified the denouement (which he called "lysis" or untying) as essential to tragedy. The structure he described—complication leading to resolution—remains the foundation of Western dramatic theory.
Word Game Tips
Letters: 10 letters (D, E, N, O, U, E, M, E, N, T)
Scrabble Value: 13 points
Tip: The letter pattern in "DENOUEMENT" appears in many related words.
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