Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Wordsmith Wednesday

Today's word was used by a friend in a conversation earlier this week and it was a word I did not recognize.  It's the 'day-new-moh' my friend said with an exquisite French accent.  The what?

I had never heard the word.  Upon investigation, I discovered that I had encountered it in print, but never knew how it was pronounced!  I do now.  And now I know what it means too.

denouement - fr. Fr de = from, out of + nouer = to tie; fr. L nodare = to knot

Basically, the term means to untie; to unravel.  It is used most often in a literary context to reference the plot's resolution, and is used secondarily to refer to any final revelation or outcome. 

Thank you, Terri S., for enlightening me and providing this Wednesday's word!

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