Détente
Etymology
French for “relaxation” or “loosening,” from Old French “destendre,” “to slacken” — as in releasing the tension of a drawn bow or a crossbow’s trigger (the trigger sense of “détente” survives in French). The image is of tension being deliberately let out of a taut string.
noun · /day-TAHNT/
An easing of hostility between rival states, especially the 1970s thaw between the United States and the Soviet Union.
What it names
It gives a precise name to a partial warming — the difference between “less dangerous” and “actually friendly” in tense relationships.
Example
A handshake at the summit signaled a cautious détente after years of threats.
Related idea
Distinguish it from rapprochement, a broader re-establishing of friendly relations — détente is narrower, merely a reduction of hostility rather than restored warmth.