peripeteia
[ per-uh-pi-tahy-uh, -tee-uh ]
/ ˌpɛr ə pɪˈtaɪ ə, -ˈti ə /
Save This Word!
noun
a sudden turn of events or an unexpected reversal, especially in a literary work.
QUIZ
QUIZ YOURSELF ON "WAS" VS. "WERE"!
Were you ready for a quiz on this topic? Well, here it is! See how well you can differentiate between the uses of "was" vs. "were" in this quiz.
Question 1 of 7
“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.
Also per·i·pe·ti·a; pe·rip·e·ty [puh-rip-i-tee]. /pəˈrɪp ɪ ti/.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use peripeteia in a sentence
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, adjectiveWord 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