anagnorisis

[ an-ag-nawr-uh-sis, -nohr- ]

noun,plural an·ag·no·ri·ses

[an-ag-nawr-uh-seez, -nohr-]. /ˌæn ægˈnɔr əˌsiz, -ˈnoʊr-/.

(in ancient Greek tragedy) the critical moment of recognition or discovery, especially preceding peripeteia.

Origin of anagnorisis

1790–1800; <Latin <Greek, equivalent to anagnōrí(zein) to know again (ana-ana- + gnōr-, cognate with Latin -gnōr- in ignōrāre to ignore + -izein-ize) + -sis-sis; perhaps gnōr- from adj. derivative *gnō-ró- knowing

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British Dictionary definitions for anagnorisis

anagnorisis

/ (ˌænəɡˈnɒrɪsɪs) /

nounplural -ses (-ˌsiːz)

(in Greek tragedy) the recognition or discovery by the protagonist of the identity of some character or the nature of his own predicament, which leads to the resolution of the plot; denouement

Origin of anagnorisis

from Greek: recognition

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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