antiphon

[ an-tuh-fon ]
See synonyms for antiphon on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a verse or song to be chanted or sung in response.

  2. Ecclesiastical.

    • a psalm, hymn, or prayer sung in alternate parts.

    • a verse or a series of verses sung as a prelude or conclusion to some part of the service.

Origin of antiphon

1
1490–1500; <Medieval Latin antiphōna responsive singing <Greek () antíphōna, neuter plural of antíphōnos sounding in answer, equivalent to anti-anti- + phōn() sound + -os adj. suffix. Cf. anthem

Words Nearby antiphon

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How to use antiphon in a sentence

  • antiphon hastened home to tell his neighbours of his discovery and to gain assistance.

    Baron Bruno | Louisa Morgan
  • The bishops and other ministers of the church advance singing the antiphon, 'Zaccheus, make haste and come down,' etc.

  • Here we have a morsel of dramatic criticism on antiphon the actor and Arbuscula the actress, which reminds one of Pepys.

    The Life of Cicero | Anthony Trollope
  • You, antiphon, would seem to suggest that happiness consists of luxury and extravagance; I hold a different creed.

    The Memorabilia | Xenophon
  • antiphon approaches Socrates in hope of drawing away his associates, and in their presence thus accosts him.

    The Memorabilia | Xenophon

British Dictionary definitions for antiphon

antiphon

/ (ˈæntɪfən) /


noun
  1. a short passage, usually from the Bible, recited or sung as a response after certain parts of a liturgical service

  2. a psalm, hymn, etc, chanted or sung in alternate parts

  1. any response or answer

Origin of antiphon

1
C15: from Late Latin antiphōna sung responses, from Late Greek, plural of antiphōnon (something) responsive, from antiphōnos, from anti- + phōnē sound

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012