conjuncture

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a combination of events or circumstances, especially one creating a critical situation

   The reform succeeded because an unusual conjuncture of public anger and political opportunity favored it.

2. 2
   noun

   rare: a joining or union of people or things

   The treaty created a temporary conjuncture of interests between former rivals.

Borrowed from French conjoncture and ultimately based on Latin coniunctura, 'a joining,' from coniungere, 'to join together.' English developed the now-primary sense of circumstances converging at a particular, often critical, moment.

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