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peripeteia

[ per-uh-pi-tahy-uh, -tee-uh ]
/ ˌpɛr ə pɪˈtaɪ ə, -ˈti ə /
See synonyms for peripeteia on Thesaurus.com

noun

a sudden turn of events or an unexpected reversal, especially in a literary work.

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Also per·i·pe·ti·a, pe·rip·e·ty [puh-rip-i-tee]. /pəˈrɪp ɪ ti/.

Origin of peripeteia

1585–95; <Greek peripéteia sudden change, equivalent to peripet(ḗs) literally, falling round (peri-peri- + pet-, base of píptein to fall) + -eia-y3

Words nearby peripeteia

periovaritis, peripachymeningitis, peripancreatitis, peripatetic, peripatus, peripeteia, peripherad, peripheral, peripheral device, peripheral dysostosis, peripheralism
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Words related to peripeteia

culmination, twist, critical point, climax, juncture, crux, axis, change, contingency, crisis, critical mass, crossing, crossroads, crunch, cusp, defining moment, development, emergency, exigency, high noon

British Dictionary definitions for peripeteia

peripeteia

peripetia peripety (pəˈrɪpətɪ)

/ (ˌpɛrɪpɪˈtaɪə, -ˈtɪə) /

noun

(esp in drama) an abrupt turn of events or reversal of circumstances

Derived forms of peripeteia

peripeteian or peripetian, adjective

Word Origin for peripeteia

C16: from Greek, from peri- + piptein to fall (to change suddenly, literally: to fall around)
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