a. rare–1. [f. Gr. ἀντίφων-ος (see ANTIPHON) after Gr. φωνητικ-ός PHONETIC.]
1. Answering or matching in sound.
1840. Barham, Ingol. Leg., 21. Moore and Tom Campbell themselves admit ‘spinach’ Is perfectly antiphonetic to ‘Greenwich.’
2. Contrary or opposed to phonetic spelling.
1840. Bonaparte, in Trans. Phil. Soc., 160. In Irish, Gaelic, Logudorese, Cagliaritan, and Sassarese, the spelling is intentionally etymological and antiphonetic.
