finis means of a book or other work: the end. It carries an Arena rating of 1555, earned across 14 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, finis ranks #678 of 13,220 for Words That Escaped Their Books, #2,400 of 13,220 for Most Vivid Words, #3,104 of 13,220 for Scariest Words, #3,643 of 13,220 for Most Elegant Words.
finis is pronounced /ˈfɪnɪs/.
Why “finis” is a great word
A textual marker, typically formal, signifying the conclusion of a book or other written work. From Middle English *finis*, from Latin *fīnis* ("end, limit, boundary"), first attested in English in the 15th century. Unlike "conclusion," which denotes a final part in a general sense, or "termination," which implies an abrupt or externally imposed ending, *finis* denotes a natural, intended, and often gracious endpoint. It is the single, centered word on the final page of a Victorian novel, the elegant script after the last line of a silent film, and the quiet click of a projector's lamp extinguishing—a dignified and final period that acknowledges all stories must find their boundary, and that the only true mercy is when they know where to stop.
Etymology
From Middle English finis, from Latin fīnis (“end; limit”). Doublet of fin, fine, and finish.
noun
- Of a book or other work: the end.“He had gone through the work from the title-page to the finis at least forty times, and had just commenced it over again.”
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