| 释义 |
antiphon|ˈæntɪfən|
Also 6–8 antiphone.
[a. Fr. antiphone, or ad. med.L. antiphōna, an adaptation as a n. fem. sing. of Gr. τὰ ἀντίϕωνα n. (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.
a1652J. Smith Sel. Disc. iv. 123 The responsals or antiphons wherein each of them catcheth at the other's part, and keeps time with it. 1661T. F. S. (title) A Manual of Prayers and Litanies, Hymns with Antiphones. 1859Jephson Brittany xvi. 269 The antiphons were sung by the choirboys 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.
c1500Consecr. Nuns in Maskell Mon. Rit. II. 318 Syngeng all together thys antiphone: Ancilla Christi sum. 1626Donne Serm. iv. 38 The whole Quire..may joyne with old Simeon in this Antiphon, Nunc Dimittis. 1635E. Pagitt Christianogr. i. ii. (1636) 70 In a certaine Antiphone or Hymn. 1876Green 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.
1775T. Warton Eng. Poetry II. 56 (T.) A sort of office..consisting of an antiphone, versicle, response and collect.
4. transf. A response, answer.
1651Reliq. Wotton. 376 (T.) The great synod of Protestant ambassadors that are to meet at Hamborough, which to me sounds like an antiphone to the other malign conjunctions at Colen. 1880Mrs. 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. |