What's the word I'm trying to think of?

October 4, 2004 2:30 PM

OnTheTipofMyTongueFilter: I am trying to think of this word, but I just can't place/remember it. It's keeping me up at night now, so it's off to the Green... [MI]

I'm trying to think of the single word you would use to describe the instant when elements or events converge and something happens. "Convergence" is not active enough, and something like "flashpoint" is just made up. It describes the single point at which something pivotal occurs, either on its own or because other events have transpired at the perfect time to cause it. "Serendipity" isn't it, either.

posted by robbie01 to Writing & Language (47 answers total)

Nexus?
posted by Capn at 2:38 PM on October 4, 2004

Epiphany?
posted by dobbs at 2:39 PM on October 4, 2004

culmination?
posted by vacapinta at 2:39 PM on October 4, 2004

critical mass? probably not what you're looking for. but maybe it's closer that what you have. or you could try checking this list of words (at thesaurus.reference.com) for help.
posted by caution live frogs at 2:43 PM on October 4, 2004

confluence?
posted by rks404 at 2:45 PM on October 4, 2004

Synergy?
posted by mnology at 2:55 PM on October 4, 2004

watershed? Or cusp?
posted by ook at 2:57 PM on October 4, 2004

tipping point?

butterfly effect?
posted by inksyndicate at 2:59 PM on October 4, 2004

Tipping point.
posted by mcwetboy at 3:04 PM on October 4, 2004

Crystalization?
posted by ParisParamus at 3:06 PM on October 4, 2004

Singularity?
posted by Dean King at 3:10 PM on October 4, 2004

juxtaposition?
posted by sauril at 3:14 PM on October 4, 2004

Cataclysm?
posted by swift at 3:15 PM on October 4, 2004

Happy Hour!
posted by Robot Johnny at 3:17 PM on October 4, 2004

Conjunction?
posted by LionIndex at 3:23 PM on October 4, 2004

coalesce, coalescence
posted by planetkyoto at 3:36 PM on October 4, 2004

inflection point?
posted by ParisParamus at 3:38 PM on October 4, 2004

watershed?
posted by coelecanth at 4:16 PM on October 4, 2004

synchronicity
posted by iconomy at 5:28 PM on October 4, 2004

Catalyst?
posted by fionab at 5:31 PM on October 4, 2004

Climax?
posted by Sangre Azul at 5:32 PM on October 4, 2004

event horizon?
posted by yangwar at 5:59 PM on October 4, 2004

Crux?
posted by maniactown at 6:10 PM on October 4, 2004

A Hegelian Dialectic? (synthesis?)
posted by ChasFile at 6:16 PM on October 4, 2004

AUFHEBUNG! Mein deutsches Lieblingswort! Commonly Englished as sublimation, I think. But I don't think that's what he wants.

Robbie01, do you know or have an idea of what letter it begins with?
posted by kenko at 6:20 PM on October 4, 2004

huzzah!
posted by bachelor#3 at 6:25 PM on October 4, 2004

ignition?
posted by Wet Spot at 6:55 PM on October 4, 2004

i vote for crux.

alternately, orgasm.

(with me, Wet Spot? I knew it.... no, not you.)
posted by louigi at 7:05 PM on October 4, 2004

Denouement?
posted by obloquy at 7:18 PM on October 4, 2004

I'm with fionab.

"Catalyst" or "catalyze" were the first words that came to mind when I read your post. They don't mean precisely what you described, but I think they get your sense across.
posted by rafter at 7:21 PM on October 4, 2004

Syzygy?

If you're into classical dramatic theory, catastrophe? Crisis?

In idiomatic English though I think we tend to use metaphor here. Tumblers clicking in a lock, that kind of thing. Possibly even the straw that breaks the camel's back, the floodgates opening, and other such cliches.
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 8:04 PM on October 4, 2004

Response by poster: Thanks for the great suggestions, everyone! None so far hit the "THAT was it!!" button for me, but I think "crux" may do in a pinch. Gold stars all around. (synergy is also good, but is more "ongoing" rather than a single point in time. Catalyst, on the other hand, feels like just one element setting another off.. good one, though!)
posted by robbie01 at 8:25 PM on October 4, 2004

The obvious one y'all missed is "consummation."

... realization? fruition? transmogrification? precipitation?
posted by sfenders at 8:38 PM on October 4, 2004

convergence?
posted by vacapinta at 8:54 PM on October 4, 2004

Crux?? You picked crux? Crux is what this post is: an unanswered question or problem.
posted by iconomy at 9:17 PM on October 4, 2004

juncture?
posted by mwhybark at 9:27 PM on October 4, 2004

Vinculum?

Um. Probably not, but I'd like to say that Robot Johnny's answer caused a synchronous nexus confluence in my crux.
posted by taz at 1:56 AM on October 5, 2004

Supervention?
posted by nthdegx at 2:35 AM on October 5, 2004

to keep you from losing any more sleep, when in doubt, "stuff" always works
posted by SNACKeR at 5:21 AM on October 5, 2004

Ahhh, Closure!
posted by Smart Dalek at 6:58 AM on October 5, 2004

coincidence, as in all of these factors coincide to create/cause xyz.
posted by grateful at 7:14 AM on October 5, 2004

Strategery.

(And robbie01, when you drop one of these questions, you gotta check back in, man!)
posted by pardonyou? at 8:12 AM on October 5, 2004

I'm thinking "apotheosis".
posted by padraigin at 9:18 AM on October 5, 2004

Eureka!
posted by deborah at 12:05 PM on October 5, 2004

Here's a few more: alchemy, amalgamation, antimony, blend, consolidation, gestalt,
(inter)mingle, juncture, meld, mesh, transition.
posted by Smart Dalek at 3:00 PM on October 5, 2004

Or perhaps even zeitgeist.
posted by Smart Dalek at 3:07 PM on October 5, 2004

I got it, I got it!

rubicon!

No?
posted by mwhybark at 5:30 PM on October 5, 2004