peripeteia

peripeteia
noun Etymology: Greek, from peripiptein to fall around, change suddenly, from peri- + piptein to fall — more at feather Date: 1591 a sudden or unexpected reversal of circumstances or situation especially in a literary work

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • Peripeteia — (Greek, polytonic|Περιπέτεια) is a reversal of circumstances, or turning point. The term is primarily used with reference to works of literature. The English form of peripeteia is Peripety . Peripety is a sudden reversal dependent on intellect… …   Wikipedia

  • peripeteia — (n.) also peripetia, 1590s, from Gk. peripeteia a turn right about, from peri around (see PERI (Cf. peri )) + stem of piptein to fall (see PETITION (Cf. petition)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • peripeteia — [pə rip′ə tēper΄ə pi tē′ə, per΄ə pitī′ə] n. [Gr, reversal < peripetēs, falling in with, changing suddenly < peri , around (see PERI ) + piptein, to fall (see FEATHER)] a sudden change of fortune or reversal of circumstances, as in a drama:… …   English World dictionary

  • peripeteia — /per euh pi tuy euh, tee euh/, n. a sudden turn of events or an unexpected reversal, esp. in a literary work. Also, peripetia, peripety /peuh rip i tee/. [1585 95; < Gk peripéteia sudden change, equiv. to peripet(és) lit., falling round (peri… …   Universalium

  • peripeteia — noun /pɛrɪpɪˈtɪə/ a reversal of fortune; a sudden change in circumstances , 1965: Once more I was a man in a myth, incapable of understanding it, but somehow aware that understanding it meant it must continue, however sinister its peripeteia.… …   Wiktionary

  • peripeteia — [ˌpɛrɪpɪ tʌɪə, ti:ə] noun formal a sudden reversal of fortune or change in circumstances. Origin C16: from Gk peripeteia sudden change , from peri around + the stem of piptein to fall …   English new terms dictionary

  • peripeteia — per•i•pe•tei•a or per•i•pe•ti•a [[t]ˌpɛr ə pɪˈtaɪ ə, ˈti ə[/t]] n. pl. tei•as or ti•as lit. a sudden turn of events or an unexpected reversal, esp. in a literary work • Etymology: 1585–95; < Gk peripéteia sudden change …   From formal English to slang

  • peripeteia — perɪpÉ™ taɪə , tɪːə n. sudden change in events, sudden reversal of circumstances (especially in a literary work) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • peripeteia — peri·pe·teia …   English syllables

  • peripeteia — /ˌpɛripəˈtaɪə/ (say .pereepuh tuyuh), / ˈtiə/ (say teeuh) noun a sudden reversal or change of fortune, especially in a dramatic work. {Greek} …  

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