Peripeteia - Definitions from Dictionary.com

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

per·i·pe·tei·a

Audio Help [per-uh-pi-tahy-uh, -tee-uh] Pronunciation Key

–noun

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

Also, per·i·pe·ti·a, pe·rip·e·ty

Audio Help [puh-rip-i-tee] Pronunciation Key.

[Origin: 1585–95; < Gk peripéteia sudden change, equiv. to peripet(s) lit., falling round (peri- peri- + pet-, base of píptein to fall) + -eia -y³

]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Peripeteia

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

per·i·pe·te·ia also per·i·pe·ti·a Audio Help (pěr'ə-pə-tē'ə, -tī'ə) Pronunciation Key
n. A sudden change of events or reversal of circumstances, especially in a literary work.

[Greek, from peripiptein, peripet-, to change suddenly : peri-, peri- + piptein, to fall; see pet- in Indo-European roots.]

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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

peripeteia
noun
a sudden and unexpected change of fortune or reverse of circumstances (especially in a literary work); "a peripeteia swiftly turns a routine sequence of events into a story worth telling"

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