peripeteia

per·i·pe·te·ia also per·i·pe·ti·a  (pr-p-t, -t)

n.

A sudden change of events or reversal of circumstances, especially in a literary work.

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

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peripeteia, peripetia [ˌpɛrɪpɪˈtaɪə -ˈtɪə], peripety [pəˈrɪpətɪ]

n

(Performing Arts / Theatre) (esp in drama) an abrupt turn of events or reversal of circumstances

[from Greek, from peri- + piptein to fall (to change suddenly, literally: to fall around)]

peripeteian , peripetian adj

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peripeteia, peripetia, peripety

Literature. a sudden change in the course of events, especially in dramatic works.

See also: Drama

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

peripeteia - 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" peripetia, peripety surprise - a sudden unexpected event