Antithesis
/ænˈtɪθ.ɪ.sɪs/noun
A contrast or opposition between two ideas or concepts.
Did you know?In ancient philosophy, antithesis was a crucial part of dialectical reasoning, where oppositional ideas were used to reach a higher truth, echoing the alchemical process of transformation.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἀντίθεσις
“a setting against, opposition”
Late Latin
Latin
antithesis
“a placing against, opposition”
Old French
Old French
antithèse
“a contrast, an opposition”
16th Century
English
antithesis
“the juxtaposition of contrasting ideas in balanced phrases”
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