antithesis

antithesis
/an tith"euh sis/, n., pl. antitheses /-seez'/.
1. opposition; contrast: the antithesis of right and wrong.
2. the direct opposite (usually fol. by of or to): Her behavior was the very antithesis of cowardly.
3. Rhet.
a. the placing of a sentence or one of its parts against another to which it is opposed to form a balanced contrast of ideas, as in "Give me liberty or give me death."
b. the second sentence or part thus set in opposition, as "or give me death."
4. Philos. See under Hegelian dialectic.
[1520-30; < L < Gk: opposition, equiv. to anti(ti)thé(nai) to oppose + -sis -SIS. See ANTI-, THESIS]
Syn. 2. opposite, reverse.

* * *

from Greekantitheton, “opposition”

      a figure of speech in which irreconcilable opposites or strongly contrasting ideas are placed in sharp juxtaposition and sustained tension, as in the saying “Art is long, and Time is fleeting.”

      The opposing clauses, phrases, or sentences are roughly equal in length and balanced in contiguous grammatical structures.

The world will little note nor long remember
what we say here, but it can never forget what
they did here.

(Abraham Lincoln, “Gettysburg Address” (Gettysburg Address))

      In poetry, the effect of antithesis is often one of tragic irony or reversal.

Saddled and bridled
And booted rade he;
A plume in his helmet,
A sword at his knee;
But toom [empty] cam' his saddle
A' bloody to see,
O hame cam' his gude horse
But never cam' he!

(“Bonnie George Campbell,” anonymous)
 

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Antithesis — Studioalbum von Secrets of the Moon Veröffentlichung September 2006 (Europa) Oktober 2006 (USA) Aufnahme April 2006 …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Antithesis — (Greek for setting opposite , from ] that thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate thine enemy, but I say to you the only correct interpretation is, Love all men, even thine enemies. Antithesis was the name given by Marcion to a document in which he …   Wikipedia

  • Antithesis — est le quatrième album studio du groupe de brutal Death metal technique américain Origin. Il est sorti le 7 avril 2008[1]. Antithesis Album par Origin Sortie 7 avril 2008 …   Wikipédia en Français

  • antithesis — (n.) 1520s, from L.L. antithesis, from Gk. antithesis opposition, resistance, lit. a placing against, also a term in logic and rhetoric, noun of action from antitithenai to set against, oppose, a term in logic, from anti against (see ANTI (Cf.… …   Etymology dictionary

  • antithesis — [an tith′ə sis] n. pl. antitheses [an tith′əsēz΄] [ME antitesis < LL antithesis < Gr < antithenai < anti , against + tithenai, to place: see DO1] 1. a contrast or opposition of thoughts, usually in two phrases, clauses, or sentences… …   English World dictionary

  • Antithesis — An*tith e*sis, n.; pl. {Antitheses}. [L., fr. Gr. ?, fr. ? to set against, to oppose; ? against + ? to set. See {Thesis}.] 1. (Rhet.) An opposition or contrast of words or sentiments occurring in the same sentence; as, The prodigal robs his heir; …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • antithesis — [n1] exact opposite antipode, antipole, contra, contradictory, contrary, contrast, converse, counter, flip side*, inverse, other side, reverse; concept 665 Ant. same antithesis [n2] contrast, opposition antagonism, contradiction,… …   New thesaurus

  • Antithesis — Antithesis, in der Rhetorik, Gegensatz, durch den man einen Gedanken heraushebt; vergl. z.B. Rottecks Charakterzeichnung oder vielmehr Carrikirung Karls d. Gr. Die neue franz. u. deutsch. Literatur gebraucht die Antithese nicht, sondern preßt sie …   Herders Conversations-Lexikon

  • antithesis — I noun absolute difference, adverseness, antipode, balanced contrast, conflict, contentio, contradiction, contradistinction, contraposition, contrariety, contrarium, contrary, contrast, converse, counterpart, counterpole, direct opposite,… …   Law dictionary

  • antithesis — 1 contrast, *comparison, parallel, collation 2 opposite, antipode, contradictory, contrary, antonym (see under OPPOSITE adj) …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • antithesis — ► NOUN (pl. antitheses) 1) a person or thing that is the direct opposite of another. 2) the putting together of contrasting ideas or words to produce a rhetorical effect. ORIGIN from Greek antitithenai set against …   English terms dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”