antistrophe

American  

[an-tis-truh-fee] / ænˈtɪs trə fi /

noun

1. the part of an ancient Greek choral ode answering a previous strophe, sung by the chorus when returning from left to right.

2. the movement performed by the chorus while singing an antistrophe.

3. Prosody. the second of two metrically corresponding systems in a poem.

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antistrophe British  

/ ænˈtɪstrəfɪ, ˌæntɪˈstrɒfɪk /

noun

1. 1. the second of two movements made by a chorus during the performance of a choral ode

   2. the second part of a choral ode sung during this movement

2. (in classical prosody) the second of two metrical systems used alternately within a poem

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• antistrophically
  adverb
• antistrophic
  adjective
• antistrophal
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of antistrophe

1540–50; < Greek: a turning about. See anti-, strophe

Explanation

An antistrophe is the second part of a classical Greek ode, during which the chorus sings as it reverses its direction across the stage. In ancient Greece, the choral poetic form called an ode had three sections, beginning with the strophe and ending with the epode. In between was the antistrophe. The word in Greek is antistrophē, literally defined as "a turning back" and commonly used to mean "the return of the chorus." After this poem-singing group moved from right to left (or east to west) across the stage during the strophe, they reversed, moving left to right as they performed the antistrophe.

Example Sentences

Accordingly they address themselves to a Full Choral Ode, the evolutions carrying them to the extreme Left of the Orchestra in the Strophe, and in the Antistrophe back to the Altar.

From Story of Orestes A Condensation of the Trilogy by Moulton, Richard Green

Antistrophe Is the Lord displeased against the rivers?

From Select Masterpieces of Biblical Literature by Moulton, Richard Green

The first of these parts is called the Strophe, or Turn; the second, the Antistrophe, or Counter-turn; the third, the Epode, or After-song.

From Six Centuries of English Poetry Tennyson to Chaucer by Baldwin, James

The two told their story in alternate sentences like the Strophe and Antistrophe of a Greek chorus.

From The Gold Bat by Wodehouse, P. G. (Pelham Grenville)

Antistrophe    Haste, then, to the pleasant groves,      The Muses' fav'rite haunt; Resume thy station in Apollo's dome,           Dearer to him Than Delos, or the fork'd Parnassian hill.

From Poemata : Latin, Greek and Italian Poems by John Milton by Cowper, William