crisis
(ˈkraɪsɪs)
Pl. crises, rarely crisises.
[a. L. crisis, a. Gr. κρίσις discrimination, decision, crisis, f. κρίν-ειν to decide.]
1. Pathol. The point in the progress of a disease when an important development or change takes place which is decisive of recovery or death; the turning-point of a disease for better or worse; also applied to any marked or sudden variation occurring in the progress of a disease and to the phenomena accompanying it.
| 1543 Traheron Vigo's Chirurg. vi. i. Dict. Terms, Crisis sygnifyeth iudgemente, and in thys case, it is vsed for a sodayne chaunge in a disease. 1548 Hall Chron. 80 When the crisis of his sicknes was past and that he perceived that helth was overcome. 1625 Hart Anat. Ur. i. ii. 21 Then shall the sicke..by the vertue and power of a happy Crisis, saile forth into the hauen of health. 1685 Boyle Enq. Notion Nat. 222, I observe that Crises's, properly so call'd, do very seldom happen in other than Feavers. 1748 Smollett Rod. Rand. xxxiv, When he found I had enjoyed a favourable crisis, he congratulated me. 1856 Kane Arct. Expl. II. viii. 87 Brooks..and Thomas have seen the crisis of their malady. |
† 2. Astrol. Said of a conjunction of the planets which determines the issue of a disease or critical point in the course of events. (Cf. critical 4.)
| 1603 Sir C. Heydon Def. Jud. Astrol. 474 When the Moone comes to the 22 of Gemini, shee shall there begin to worke a dangerous Crisis, or alteration..so preuenting her ordinarie working. 1663 Butler Hud. i. i. 611 They'll feel the Pulses of the Stars, To find out Agues, Coughs, Catarrhs; And tell what Crisis does Divine The Rot in Sheep, or Mange in Swine. |
3. transf. and fig. A vitally important or decisive stage in the progress of anything; a turning-point; also, a state of affairs in which a decisive change for better or worse is imminent; now applied esp. to times of difficulty, insecurity, and suspense in politics or commerce.
| 1627 Sir B. Rudyard in Rushw. Hist. Coll. I. (1659) 301 This is the Chrysis of Parliaments; we shall know by this if Parliaments live or die. a 1661 Fuller Worthies i. 204 The time betwixt Wicklife and Trevisa was the Chrisis of the English tongue. 1715 M. Davies Ath. Brit. i. 346 Great Crisises in Church and State. 1769 Junius Lett. i. 10 To escape a crisis so full of terror and despair. 1848 Mill Pol. Econ. iii. xii, There is said to be a commercial crisis when a great number of merchants and traders, at once, either have, or apprehend that they shall have, a difficulty in meeting their engagements. 1860 Tyndall Glac. i. xxvii. 202 The layer of snow had been in a state of strain, which our crossing brought to a crisis. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) III. 174 The ordinary statesman is also apt to fail in extraordinary crises. 1886 Stubbs Lect. Med. & Mod. Hist. xvi. 365 Foreign transactions..most tedious because they go on without crisises and without issues. |
† 4. Judgement, decision. Obs.
| 1621 W. Sclater Quæst. Tythes (1623) 198 His Crisis so exact will with greatest scorne reiect [etc.]. 1643 Herle Answ. Ferne 2 Consciences Synteresis, and Syneidesis..can warrant her to passe her Crisis or conclusive judgement. 1683 Cave Ecclesiastici Pref. 3 We have not made..a Crisis and Censure of every single Tract. 1715 M. Davies Ath. Brit. i. 11. |
† 5. A point by which to judge; a criterion, token, sign. Obs.
| 1606 Sir G. Goosecappe ii. i. in Bullen O. Pl. III. 33 The Crises here are excellent good; the proportion of the chin good..the wart above it most exceeding good. 1641 H. P. Quest. Div. Right Episc. Ep. Ded. 2 Let your gracious acceptance of the same be as strong a crisis that your Grace is not a prejudging factious enemie. 1657 S. Purchas Pol. Flying-Ins. i. v. 12 Whereas the others beauty and lustiness is a Crysis of their youth, not their idleness. |
6. attrib. and Comb.
| 1841 Times 11 May 5/1 It may disappoint the crisis-mongers to hear us say so. 1896 Westm. Gaz. 23 June 3/1 All the aspects of a crisis night. 1898 Ibid. 4 Jan. 2/2 A Tory Government was ‘crisis proof’. 1898 Ibid. 26 Mar. 5/1 The ‘crisis’-less years of the late Liberal Government. 1898 Ibid. 24 June 2/3 The Near and not the Far East..was the crisis-centre. 1900 Ibid. 11 May 2/2 A crisis-avoiding peace-compelling Government. 1903 Ibid. 3 Jan. 2/3 A Crisis Fund, amounting to nearly two millions. 1938 E. Waugh in Tablet 23 July 112/1 The crisis-minded always maintain that the problems of their particular decade are unique and insuperable. 1938 Punch 10 Aug. 163/1 How many of these people are crisis-conscious? 1939 Wyndham Lewis Let. 5 Oct. (1963) 266 In the crisis-days prior to the war. 1940 W. Empson Gathering Storm 65 The point is to join up the crisis-feeling to what can be felt all the time in normal life. 1960 Times 24 Oct. (Financial Rev.) p. viii/6 Switzerland..has been a normal haven for ‘crisis’ money. 1965 H. Kahn On Escalation xiii. 245 Crisis-management problems. |