Definition of peripeteia

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< peripatus

peripety >

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

NOUN:

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

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