ophør

Ophør is a Danish and Norwegian noun that denotes the cessation or stoppage of an ongoing activity, process, or state of affairs. It signals that something which was in progress has come to an end, whether temporarily or permanently. The related verb ophøre means to cease or discontinue.

Etymology and form: Ophør is the noun form derived from the verb ophøre. In both Danish and Norwegian, cognate forms exist, such as opphøre in Norwegian Bokmål. The term is commonly used in formal, administrative, legal, and professional contexts.

Usage and contexts: In legal and administrative language, ophør describes the termination of contracts, agreements, or procedures (for example, ophør af forhandlinger or ophør af betalingsforpligtelser). In business and production, it can refer to the cessation of operations or production (drift ophør, ophør af produktion). In medical or public health contexts, it may denote stopping a treatment or intervention (ophør af behandling). The expression can also appear in everyday language to indicate a pause or end of activity, such as a temporary ophør or a permanent ophør of a service.

Relation to related terms: Ophør contrasts with ophævelse (repeal or abolition of a rule), afbrydelse (interruption or break), and afslutning (conclusion or completion). The choice among these terms depends on nuance: ophør emphasizes the end of activity; ophævelse emphasizes removal of a rule; afbrydelse emphasizes an abrupt interruption; afslutning emphasizes finishing.