crisis

 
Pronunciation: /ˈkrʌɪsɪs/

noun (plural crises /-siːz/)

  • a time of intense difficulty or danger: the current economic crisis [mass noun]: the monarchy was in crisis
  • a time when a difficult or important decision must be made: [as modifier]: the situation has reached crisis point
  • the turning point of a disease when an important change takes place, indicating either recovery or death.

Origin:

late Middle English (denoting the turning point of a disease): medical Latin, from Greek krisis 'decision', from krinein 'decide'. The general sense 'decisive point' dates from the early 17th century

Spelling rule

Make the plural by changing the -is ending to -es: (crises).