episode

episode [ep′ə sōd΄]

n.

[Gr epeisodion, addition, episode, orig. neut. of epeisodios, following upon the entrance < epi-, upon + eisodos, an entrance < eis-, into + hodos, way, road < IE base * sed-, to go]

1. the part of an ancient Greek tragedy between two choric songs: it corresponds to an act

2. in a novel, poem, etc., any part of the story, or a narrative digression, that is largely complete in itself

3. any event or series of events complete in itself but forming part of a larger one [an episode in the war]

4. any installment of a serialized story or drama

5. Music a passage or section digressing from a main theme, as in a fugue or rondo

SYN.- OCCURRENCE