n. pl. cri·ses (-sēz) 1. A crucial or decisive point or situation, especially a difficult or unstable situation involving an impending change. 2. A sudden change in the course of a disease or fever, toward either improvement or deterioration. 3. An emotionally stressful event or traumatic change in a person's life. 4. A point in a story or drama when a conflict reaches its highest tension and must be resolved. [Middle English, from Latin, judgment, from Greek krisis, from krīnein, to separate, judge; see krei- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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