LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · femininethird declension

clīmax

clīmax f (genitive clīmacis)
Classical[ˈkliː.maks]Ecclesiastical[ˈkliː.maks]

Meaning

  1. rhetoricclimax

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativeclīmaxclīmacēs
genitiveclīmacisclīmacum
dativeclīmacīclīmacibus
accusativeclīmacemclīmacēs
ablativeclīmaceclīmacibus
vocativeclīmaxclīmacēs

clīmax, ăcis, f., = κλῖμαξ (a ladder),
I. a rhetorical figure, consisting in a gradual increase in force of expression, a climax (pure Lat. gradatio), Mart. Cap. 5, § 536 (in Quint. 9, 3, 54, used as Greek, and transl. by gradatio).

Origins

From Ancient Greek κλῖμαξ (klîmax, “ladder, staircase, [rhetorical] climax”), from κλίνω (klínō, “to lean, slant”).

In English words that came into English from clīmax

  • climaxclīmax
  • climacusclīmax

Quick answers

What does clīmax mean in Latin?
clīmax, a noun, means “climax”.
What is the genitive of clīmax?
The genitive singular is clīmacis. clīmax is feminine, third declension.
How do you pronounce clīmax?
In classical Latin, [ˈkliː.maks]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ˈkliː.maks].