Climax

klī′maks, n. ( rhet. ) the arranging of the particulars of a portion of a discourse so as to rise in strength to the last: the last term of the rhetorical arrangement: a culmination.— v.i. to ascend in a climax: to culminate.— adjs. Climact′ic , -al , pertaining to a climax.— adv. Climact′ically . [Gr. klimax , a ladder—from klinein , to slope.]