A transitional phrase used to signal that the speaker or writer is about to present their final thoughts or summary.
This phrase developed in the 15th century from Latin 'conclusio' meaning 'a shutting up' or 'ending.' The word comes from 'concludere' - 'con' (together) plus 'claudere' (to shut), literally meaning to shut or close together.
The etymology reveals a perfect metaphor: just as you might close a book by bringing the covers together, 'conclusion' literally means bringing all your ideas together and shutting them up in a final statement. It's like putting a lid on your argument!
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