hamartia

ha·mar·ti·a

[hah-mahr-tee-uh]
noun

Origin:
1890–95; < Greek: a fault, equivalent to hamart- (base of hamartánein to err) + -ia -ia

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
hamartia (həˈmɑːtɪə) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n
literature the flaw in character which leads to the downfall of the protagonist in a tragedy
 
[C19: from Greek]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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00:10
Hamartia is always a great word to know.
So is quincunx. Does it mean:
an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.
a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare.
American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

hamartia ha·mar·ti·a (hä'mär-tē'ə, hə-mär'shē-ə)
n.
A developmental defect characterized by the abnormal arrangement or combination of tissues normally present in a specific area.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia

hamartia

(hamartia from Greek hamartanein, "to err"), inherent defect or shortcoming in the hero of a tragedy, who is in other respects a superior being favoured by fortune.

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Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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