n. pl. ca·tas·ta·ses (-sēz′) 1. The intensified part of the action directly preceding the catastrophe in classical tragedy. 2. The climax of a drama. [Greek katastasis, settled state, from kathistanai, to come into a certain state : kat-, kata-, cata- + histanai, to set; see stā- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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