English → Latin
“antithesis” in Latin
contrāriusopposite, opposed, contrary, conflicting, witherwardcontentiōstretching, tension; competition, rivalry; struggle, effortantĭthĕsisthe putting of one letter for another
The English word antithesis itself goes back to Latin antĭthĕsis.
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
antithesis
contrarium (the opposite of anything). “The antithesis of anything,” by crcl. with contrarius alicujus rei or alicui rei (e.g., hujus virtutis contraria vitiositas, Cic.): contentio (the placing together of opposite thoughts). OBSERVE (a) oppositum does not intimate that the notion opposed to another is contrary to it: (b) antithesis is a grammatical figure when one letter is put for another (as olli for illi); but antitheton is “an antithetical notion,” so that antitheta may be used for “antitheses” (haec quae Graeci antitheta nominant, cum contrariis opponuntur contraria, Cic. :” rasis Librat in antithetis,” Persius).
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for antithesis?
- The usual Latin words for “antithesis” are contrārius, contentiō, antĭthĕsis. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.
Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.