A critical period or turning point, especially in human life; related to menopause or major life transitions; used in medicine and philosophy.
From Greek 'klimakter' meaning 'rung of a ladder' or 'critical period,' from 'klimax' (ladder). The Greeks believed life had critical turning points like the rungs of a ladder one must carefully navigate.
Ancient Greeks literally thought of life's transitions as climbing a ladder—they called certain years (like 63, which they thought was especially critical) 'climacteric years,' and we still use this metaphor to describe life's major turning points.
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