Bridgerton has finally returned to Netflix and fans have already binged through the first half of season four. The remaining four episodes of the latest series will be available on the platform next month, but fans are eager for the rest of the series and to discover how the story concludes, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Season four centres on the romance between second son Benedict Bridgerton (portrayed by Luke Thompson) and maid Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha), a storyline adapted from Julia Quinn’s third novel An Offer from a Gentleman. The series also explores the lives of other Bridgerton siblings, including Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie), who has decided to remain single, and her newly married sister Francesca Bridgerton (Hannah Dodd).

The new series has introduced some old-fashioned terms that have piqued viewers’ interest, including ‘my ward’ and rake, which have been used previously.

Another term that has sparked curiosity is ‘pinnacle’, which was frequently used in the four new episodes.

Here’s an explanation of the term, its meaning and its relevance within Bridgerton.

What does pinnacle mean in Bridgerton?

In Bridgerton, pinnacle refers to reaching the peak of pleasure or experiencing an orgasm. The subject arises between newlyweds John Stirling (Victor Alli) and Francesca when the couple are having difficulty conceiving after nearly a year of marriage.

John reveals to Francesca that achieving her pinnacle could aid in conception.

Like her sister Daphne Hastings (Phoebe Dynevor) and other high society ladies, Francesca has been kept uninformed about intimate matters, prompting her to seek guidance from her mother Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell) and Penelope Bridgerton (Nicola Coughlan).

Penelope describes a pinnacle to Francesca as “a sensation”, explaining: “Your heart will begin to race”. She continues: “You gasp for air, you shout into the night. It feels like the height of pleasure.”

Despite the explanation, Francesca remains puzzled and tries to experience a pinnacle in hopes of conceiving, though John reassures her there’s no need to “perform” for him.

In broader terms, the Cambridge dictionary defines pinnacle as “the most successful or admired part of a system or achievement” or “a small pointed tower on top of a building, or the top part of a mountain”.

Within Bridgerton’s world, pinnacle appears to serve as a genteel substitute for orgasm, a term not commonly employed during the Regency period.

However, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, orgasm has been in circulation since the late 1600s.

The dictionary notes that physician George Thomson first used orgasm in 1671 in his medical writings.

The upcoming second part of Bridgerton’s fourth season will continue following Francesca’s journey towards discovering her pinnacle. Discussing the plot, Dodd revealed to Swoondotcom: “I can’t tell you how many times I said the word ‘pinnacle’ in the last year.”

When probed about potential alternatives, Dodd clarified: “I can’t speak for the writers room, I don’t know if there were other words.

“I’d love to know if there were other words, but it was always pinnacle from day one of me receiving the script. So I have said the world pinnacle about a thousand times.”

Dodd further explained Francesca’s obsession with reaching her pinnacle: “It really breaks my heart that she thinks she’s responsible for not being pregnant yet because of that.

“Obviously, putting that much pressure on that is not going to help it happen as well.”

The actress concluded: “She’s just trying to make sure she’s doing the right thing. I think she puts a lot of pressure on herself.”

Bridgerton season 4, part 2 will be released on Netflix on February 26