Also 6–8 antiphone. [a. Fr. antiphone, or ad. med.L. antiphōna, an adaptation as a sb. fem. sing. of Gr. τὰ ἀντίφωνα sb. (prop. adj.) neut. pl., musical accords, things ‘sounding in response,’ of which the sing. τὸ ἀντίφωνον is used by Aristotle for ‘an accord in the octave’; f. ἀντί in return + -φωνος sounding, f. φωνή vocal sound. Antiphon is thus a re-adaptation of the word which in earlier times became ANTHEM, after the latter had lost its etymological sense.]
1. A versicle or sentence sung by one choir in response to another.
a. 1652. J. Smith, Sel. Disc., iv. 123. The responsals or antiphons wherein each of them catcheth at the other’s part, and keeps time with it.
1661. T. F. S. (title), A Manual of Prayers and Litanies, Hymns with Antiphones.
1859. Jephson, Brittany, xvi. 269. The antiphons were sung by the choir-boys alone.
2. A composition, in prose or verse, consisting of verses or passages sung alternately by two choirs in worship; = ANTHEM in the original sense, but passing also early into the modern sense of anthem.
c. 1500. Consecr. Nuns, in Maskell, Mon., II. 318. Syngeng all together thys antiphone: Ancilla Christi sum.
1626. Donne, Serm., iv. 38. The whole Quire … may joyne with old Simeon in this Antiphon, Nunc Dimittis.
1635. Pagitt, Christianogr., I. ii. (1636), 70. In a certaine Antiphone or Hymn.
1876. Green, Short Hist., i. § 6 (1881), 52. Tones which the excited ears around frame into a joyous antiphon.
3. techn. ‘A short piece of plain-song introduced before a psalm or canticle, to the Tone of which it corresponds, while the words are selected so as specially to illustrate and enforce the evangelical or prophetic meaning of the text.’ Helmore, in Grove, Mus. Dict., 1879.
1775. T. Warton, Eng. Poetry, II. 56 (T.). A sort of office, or service to saint Edmund, consisting of an antiphone, versicle, response, and collect, is introduced with these verses.
4. transf. A response, answer.
1651. Reliq. Wotton., 503–4 (T.). The great Synod of Protestant Ambassadours, that are to meet at Hamborough; which to me sounds like an Antiphone to the other maligne Conjunction at Colen.
1880. Mrs. Whitney, Odd or Even, xxi. 228. A curious, fine ring in his tone, the antiphon, perhaps, to the clear, sweet pride that had been in Frances.
