n. (Rhet.) A sentence in which the ideas fall, or become less important and striking, at the close; -- the opposite of climax. It produces a ridiculous effect. Example:
Lieutenant-colonel to the Earl of Mar. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ L., from Gr. &unr_; ladder, staircase, fr. &unr_; to make to bend, to lean. See Ladder, Lean, v. i. ]
“Tribulation worketh patience, patience experience, and experience hope” -- a happy climax. J. D. Forbes. [ 1913 Webster ]
We must look higher for the climax of earthly good. I. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]
To cap the climax,
‖n. [ L. ] (Zool.) A genus of airbreathing mollusks, including the common garden slugs. They have a small rudimentary shell. The breathing pore is on the right side of the neck. Several species are troublesome in gardens. See Slug. [ 1913 Webster ]