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antistrophe

[an-tis-truh-fee]
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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.Compare strophe(def 3).
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Origin of antistrophe

1540–50; < Greek: a turning about. See anti-, strophe
Related formsan·ti·stroph·ic [an-tuh-strof-ik, -stroh-fik] /ˌæn təˈstrɒf ɪk, -ˈstroʊ fɪk/, an·tis·tro·phal, adjectivean·ti·stroph·i·cal·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for antistrophe

Historical Examples

  • And all the gapers, who had nothing of their own to suggest, answered with the antistrophe, “Who could it be?”

    St. Ronan's Well

    Sir Walter Scott

  • Metrical scheme: a brief strophe and antistrophe and conclusion.

  • His mind see-sawed in strophe and antistrophe: "You can't move!"

    Five Tales

    John Galsworthy

  • (Antistrophe) Hee-haw, Remus can saw, Romulus tries to make plaster.

    Boycotted

    Talbot Baines Reed

  • This subject, with a recitative in the minor, forms the antistrophe.

British Dictionary definitions for antistrophe

antistrophe

noun
  1. (in ancient Greek drama)
    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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See also strophe
Derived Formsantistrophic (ˌæntɪˈstrɒfɪk), adjectiveantistrophically, adverb

Word Origin

C17: via Late Latin from Greek antistrophē an answering turn, from anti- + strophē a turning
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

Word Origin and History for antistrophe

n.

c.1600, from Latin, from Greek antistrophe "a turning about, a turning back," from antistrephein, from anti- "against" (see anti-) + strephein "to turn" (see strophe).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper