climax

Where does the word "climax" come from? It comes from Greek klimax, passing through Late Latin before entering English (1580s).

Climax’s story begins in Greek: klimax meant “ladder.” Greek, from 'klinein', to slope. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Late Latin as climax. A figure of speech where ideas rise in intensity, like rungs of a ladder. It reached English by 1580s as climax. The sense 'highest point' dates from the 1700s. Today, climax means the most intense point.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient klimax "ladder", Greek, from 'klinein', to slope.
2. Stage 2 · Late Latin · ancient climax "rhetorical ascent", a figure of speech where ideas rise in intensity, like rungs of a ladder.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1580s climax "rhetorical figure", the sense 'highest point' dates from the 1700s.