plot

Definition

The course of a story, comprising a series of incidents which are gradually unfolded, sometimes by unexpected means.

Etymology

From Middle English plot, plotte, from Old English plot (“a plot of ground”), from Proto-Germanic *plataz, *platjaz (“a patch”), of uncertain origin. Cognate with Middle Low German plet (“patch, strip of cloth, rags”), German Bletz (“rags, bits, strip of land”), and possibly Gothic 𐍀𐌻𐌰𐍄 (plat, “a patch, rags”). See also plat. See also complot for an influence on or source of noun sense 5. Noun sense 9 is a back-formation from for the plot.

Example Sentences

• "If the plot or intrigue must be natural, and such as springs from the subject, then the winding up of the plot must be a probable consequence of all that went before."
• "He's buried in the family plot."
• "I was told to fly out on a vector of 100 degrees to meet a strong plot of aircraft 30 miles from the coast."