- Antistrophe
- Antistrophe An*tis"tro*phe, n. [L., fr. Gr. ?, fr. ? to turn
to the opposite side; ? against + ? to turn. See {Strophe}.]
1. In Greek choruses and dances, the returning of the chorus,
exactly answering to a previous strophe or movement from
right to left. Hence: The lines of this part of the choral
song.
[1913 Webster]
It was customary, on some occasions, to dance round the altars whilst they sang the sacred hymns, which consisted of three stanzas or parts; the first of which, called strophe, was sung in turning from east to west; the other, named antistrophe, in returning from west to east; then they stood before the altar, and sang the epode, which was the last part of the song. --Abp. Potter. [1913 Webster]
2. (Rhet.) (a) The repetition of words in an inverse order; as, the master of the servant and the servant of the master. (b) The retort or turning of an adversary's plea against him. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.