cli'măx, n.

n. [Lat. climax, from Gr. κλῖμαξ, ladder, staircase, from κλίνειν, to make to bend, to lean.] 1. (Rhet.) A figure or arrangement in which a sentence rises as it were step by step in importance, force, or dignity. “A fourth rule for constructing sentences with proper strength, is, to make the members of them go on rising and growing in their importance above one another. This sort of arrangement is called a climax, and is always considered as a beauty in composition.” Blair. 2. The highest point; the greatest degree. We must look higher for the climax of earthly good. J. Taylor.