\E*pit"a*sis\, n. [NL., fr. Gr. ? a stretching, fr. ?
to stretch upon or over; 'epi` upon + ? to stretch.]
1. That part which embraces the main action of a play, poem,
   and the like, and leads on to the catastrophe; -- opposed
   to protasis.
2. (Med.) The period of violence in a fever or disease;
   paroxysm. --Dunglison.