anagnorisis

noun

an·ag·no·ri·sis ˌa-ˌnag-ˈnȯr-ə-səs

plural anagnorises ˌa-ˌnag-ˈnȯr-ə-ˌsēz

: the point in the plot especially of a tragedy at which the protagonist recognizes his or her or some other character's true identity or discovers the true nature of his or her own situation

Examples of anagnorisis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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In this case, the act of anagnorisis is one of self-recognition. —

Robyn Creswell, The New York Review of Books, 2 July 2020 One of the greatest expositions of (the idea of) anagnorisis — the moment of recognition in Aristotelian tragedy — is when Siegmund and Sieglinde discover each other’s identities as brother and sister. —

John Von Rhein, chicagotribune.com, 31 Oct. 2017

Word History

Etymology

Greek anagnōrisis, from anagnōrizein to recognize, from ana- + gnōrizein to make known; akin to Greek gnōrimos well-known, gignōskein to come to know — more at know

First Known Use

1783, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of anagnorisis was in 1783

See more words from the same year