In ancient drama: the first part of a play, in which the characters and subject are introduced. Also in extended use. Cf. epitasis, n., catastrophe…

‘The change or revolution which produces the conclusion or final event of a dramatic piece’ (Johnson); the dénouement.

‘That part of a play where the plot thickens’ (Liddell and Scott).

The returning movement, from left to right, in Greek choruses and dances, answering to the previous movement of the strophe from right to left; hence…

(See quots.)

In the Old Greek Tragedy, the interlocutory parts between two choric songs, because these were originally interpolations.

In the Greek drama: = exodium, n. 1; hence gen. the ending, catastrophe of a play.

A verbal contest or dispute between two characters in an ancient Greek play.

In classical Greek Drama, dialogue in alternate lines, employed in sharp disputation, and characterized by antithesis and rhetorical repetition or…