peripetia

Variant of peripeteia

noun

a sudden change of fortune or reversal of circumstances, as in a drama

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

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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