krasis

Krasis, from the Greek krásis (κρᾰσις), meaning mixture or blending, is a term used in several classical and later disciplines to denote a process of combination or fusion of elements. The exact sense varies by field, but the core idea is the union or coordination of components into a single distinct result.

In ancient medicine and physiophysiology, krasis described how nutriment and bodily substances are transformed and blended within the body. It was linked to the formation of the four humors and to the maintenance of a person’s constitutional balance or temperament. In this medical context krasis explained how different elements or fluids combine to influence health, disease, and character.

In philosophy and natural philosophy, krasis was used to discuss the mixing and interaction of substances and elements. Some medieval and early modern authors employed the term when describing how basic components such as air, fire, water, and earth might blend to produce compounded qualities or substances.

In rhetoric and linguistics, krasis (often spelled crasis) denotes the contraction or fusion of adjacent sounds or words, a process that can obscure boundary between elements in poetry or prose. It also appears in discussions of ancient Greek prosody and orthography, where elisions and contractions affect meter and pronunciation.

Today krasis is primarily of historical interest, appearing in studies of ancient medicine, philosophy, and philology. The term remains a general linguistic reminder of mixture as a fundamental organizing principle across disciplines.