Emily Dickinson Lexicon

crisis, n. [L. < Gk. κρίσις, discrimination, decision, crisis.] (webplay: arrived, death, event, fever, hour, point, time).

1. An emergency; a difficulty; a bad situation; a decisive stage in a process; an unexpected state of events demanding urgent action.
2. Recovery; the turning point; [fig.] release from pain by death.