in Rhetoric, a contrast or opposition of words or sentiments. Such is that of Cicero, in the second Catilinarian: "On one side stands modesty, on the other impudence; on one fidelity, on the other deceit; here piety, there sacrilege; here continency, there lust, &c." Such also is that of Augustus to some factitious young men, Audite, juvenes, Jovenem, quem juvenem fenes audirete. Such again is that of Seneca: Curae leviores loquuntur, ingenies fluebent. And that of Virgil:

Fleclere si nequeo superos, Acheronta movebo.

St Augustine, Seneca, Salvian, and many other ancient writers, seem greatly to affect antitheses; but among the moderns they are generally decried. Defmaretz represents them as the favourites of young writers. The following is an example of modern antithesis.

Though gentle, yet not dull; Strong, without rage; without overflowing, full.

Antithesis is sometimes used for controversy. In this sense, we meet with antithetic method, antithetic discourses, &c. Marcion composed a volume of Antitheses, or contrarieties and oppositions between the law and the gospel.