E*pit"a*sis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. a stretching, fr. to stretch upon or over; upon + to stretch.]

1.

That part which embraces the main action of a play, poem, and the like, and leads on to the catastrophe; -- opposed to protasis.

2. Med.

The period of violence in a fever or disease; paroxysm.

Dunglison.

 

© Webster 1913.

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