denouement
UK[deɪˈnuːmɒ̃]US[ˌdeɪnuːˈmɑːn]
n
The final part of a play, film, or narrative in which the strands of the plot are drawn together and matters are explained or resolved.
n
The outcome of a situation, when something is decided or made clear.
Morpheme Breakdown
de
noue
ment
de
off, from, down, completely,
noue
to tie
ment
Etymology
The word 'denouement' entered English from French in the mid-18th century, retaining its original French spelling and theatrical application. Its literal French meaning is "an untying," built from the prefix dé- (undoing) and nouer (to tie). This directly reflects the Latin root nōdus, meaning "knot." The term's journey from a physical act—untying a knot—to its modern abstract meaning is a classic metaphor: just as a tangled knot is loosened to reveal a single strand, a complex plot is unraveled in the final act to reveal the resolution and clarify the outcome for the audience.
Analysis
Structure: de + noue + ment
- de: A prefix of Latin origin meaning "off, from, down, completely," indicating reversal or removal.
- noue: A morpheme derived from the Old French verb nouer, meaning "to tie" or "to knot," itself from the Latin nōdus (knot).
- ment: A suffix of Latin origin (-mentum), used to form nouns expressing the means or result of an action.
Examples
The play's denouement was both surprising and satisfying.
After weeks of negotiation, the denouement of the crisis was a peaceful agreement.
The final chapter provides the denouement, explaining all the mysteries introduced earlier.