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epitasis

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e⋅pit⋅a⋅sis

  [i-pit-uh-sis]
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–noun, plural -ses  [-seez] .
the part of an ancient drama, following the protasis, in which the main action is developed. Compare catastasis, catastrophe (def. 4), protasis.
Origin:
1580–90; < Gk epítasis emphasis, increase of intensity, stretching, equiv. to epi- epi- + ta- (var. s. of teínein to stretch) + -sis -sis
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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e·pit·a·sis   (ĭ-pĭt'ə-sĭs)   
n.   pl. e·pit·a·ses (-sēz')
The middle part of a play that develops the action leading to the catastrophe.

[Greek, stretching, intensity, from epiteinein, epita-, to stretch, intensify : epi-, epi- + teinein, to stretch; see ten- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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