conclusion

Etymology

From Middle English, borrowed from Old French conclusion, from Latin conclūsiō, from the past participle stem of conclūdere (“to conclude”), from con- + claudō, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kleh₂u- (“key, hook, nail”).

noun

1. The end, finish, close or last part of something.
   Some have recently questioned whether conclusion of a START treaty is a lower priority for the Bush Administration than conclusion of a conventional force in Europe (CFE) treaty or whether we want to delay START pending progress in CFE. 1989 October, Richard R. Burt, “Status of the Strategic Arms Reduction Talks”, in Department of State Bulletin: The Official Monthly Record of United States Foreign Policy, volume 89, number 2151, page 19, column 3
2. The outcome or result of a process or act.
3. A decision reached after careful thought.
   The board has come to the conclusion that the proposed takeover would not be in the interest of our shareholders.
4. (logic) In an argument or syllogism, the proposition that follows as a necessary consequence of the premises.
5. (obsolete) An experiment, or something from which a conclusion may be drawn.
6. (law) The end or close of a pleading, for example, the formal ending of an indictment, "against the peace", etc.
7. (law) An estoppel or bar by which a person is held to a particular position.
   It was determined, that though the fine operated at first by conclusion, and passed no interest, yet the estoppel should bind the heir 1818, William Cruise, A Digest of the Laws of England Respecting Real Property