[Gr. κατάστασις settling, appointment; settled condition; f. καθιστάναι to set down, appoint, establish, settle; f. κατά down + στα- stand. In mod.F. catastase.]
1. (See quots.) [This sense not in Gr. or L.]
1656. Blount, Glossogr., Catastasis, the third part of a Comedy, and signifies the state and full vigour of it. Tragedies and Comedies have four principal parts in respect of the matter treated of. 1. Protasis. 2. Epitasis. 3. Catastasis. 4. Catastrophe.
1668. Dryden, Dram. Poesy, 16. Thirdly, The Catastasis, or Counter-turn, which destroys that expectation.
1751. Chambers, Cycl., Catastasis … the third part of the antient drama; being that wherein the intrigue is supported, carried on, and heightened till it be ripe for the unravelling in the catastrophe.
1761. Sterne, Tr. Shandy, IV. Slawkenb. Tale. The epitasis, wherein the action is more fully entered upon and heightened, till it arrives at its state or height, called the catastasis.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev. (1872), II. VI. i. 223. No catastrophe, rather a catastasis or heightening.
2. Rhet. The narrative part of a speech, usually the beginning of it, in which the orator sets forth the subject to be discussed. (In mod. Dicts.)
3. Med. ‘The state or condition of anything; constitution; habit of body.’ (In mod. Dicts.)
