peripetia

Variant of peripeteia

peripeteia definition

peri·pe·teia (per′ə pi tē′ə, -tī′-)

noun

a sudden change of fortune or reversal of circumstances, as in a drama
also peripetia per′i·pe·ti′a or peripety pe·rip′·ety (pə rip′ə tē)

Etymology: Gr, reversal < peripetēs, falling in with, changing suddenly < peri-, around (see peri-) + piptein, to fall (see feather)

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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