An'them, n.

n. [O. Eng. antheme, antetheme, anteteme, anten, O. Fr. anthaîne, anteïne, antienne, antevene, Pr. antífena, antífona, It. & Sp. antífona, A. S. antefen, L. Lat. antiphona, from Gr. ἀντίφωνα, pl. neut. of ἀντίφωνον, antiphon, or anthem, n. neut., from ἀντίφωνος, sounding contrary, returning a sound, from ἀντί, against, and φωνή, sound, voice: wrongly derived by others from an imaginary Gr. ἀνθύμνος. In accordance with this false derivation, Barrow writes the word anthym. Formerly, a hymn sung in alternate parts, but, in present usage, any church music adapted to passages from the Scriptures; a motet.