Conclusions

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Final outcomes derived from analyzing data or arguments
2. Summative insights obtained after a thorough evaluation of information
3. Decisions reached after considering all the facts ; summaries formed by logically interpreting information

Etymology: "Conclusions" is simply the plural of "conclusion," so its history is that of the singular noun. The base sense is physical: Latin "conclūdere" combined "con-" (together) with "claudere" (to shut or close), so to conclude was to shut something up or enclose it. The Proto-Indo-European ancestor behind "claudere" points to a root meaning key, hook or nail, a reminder that many of these words began with the mechanics of locking and fastening. From the Latin noun "conclūsiō," the word passed through Old French into Middle English, and its meaning moved from enclosing toward bringing something to an end. Ending an argument or a series of premises naturally became the sense of reaching a final judgment, which is why "conclusions" now refers to the decisions and logical summaries drawn from evidence.

Synonyms: deductions, inferences, results, outcomes

Antonyms: premises, propositions