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, McGary, Riley, 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, 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. Judgment, 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. c 2. 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.
