conclusion

noun

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”). By surface analysis, conclude + -sion.

1. The end, finish, close or last part of something.

   “At the end of the seventh hour, a flourish of trumpets announced the conclusion of the contest; […]”

   “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.”

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.”

   “[I]n her boſome Ile vnclaſpe my heart, / And take her hearing priſoner with the force / And ſtrong incounter of my amorous tale: / Then after to her father will I breake, / And the concluſion is, ſhe ſhal be thine, [...]”

4. In an argument or syllogism, the proposition that follows as a necessary consequence of the premises.

   “He granted him both the major and minor, but denied him the conclusion.”

5. An experiment, or something from which a conclusion may be drawn.

   “[W]ee practiſe likewise all Concluſions of Grafting, and Inoculating, as well of VVilde-Trees, as Fruit-Trees, which produceth many Effects.”

6. The end or close of a pleading, for example, the formal ending of an indictment, "against the peace", etc.
7. 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”

8. arrangement; settlement.