catastasis /kəˈtæstəsɪs/ noun2 •In classical drama, the second and penultimate section, in which action is heightened for the catastrophe.It doubles itself in the middle of his life, reflects itself in another, repeats itself, protasis, epitasis, catastasis, catastrophe. — 1922 •(rhetoric) The part of a speech that states the subject to be discussed. formscatastases