Definition: A crisis refers to a critical or pivotal point in any situation where a decisive change is impending, often for the worse. It can denote a time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger when important decisions must be made to mitigate potential negative outcomes. In medicine, it describes a turning point in the course of a disease, either towards recovery or deterioration.
Etymology and Origin: The term ‘crisis’ comes from the Greek word ‘krisis’, meaning ‘decision’, derived from ‘krinein’, meaning ‘to decide’ or ‘to separate’. The use of the word in English to describe a time of intense difficulty or danger emerged in the 15th century, but its medical usage dates back to the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates.
