Rhetoric, a contrast or opposition of words or sentiments. Such is that of Cicero, in the second Catilinarian: "On one side stands deity, 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 sedulous young men, Audite, juvenes, senem, quem juvenem fones audirent. Such again is that of Seneca: Curae laves loquuntur, ingentes flupent. And that of Virgil:

Flectere 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 antitheses:

Though gentle, yet not dull; Strong, without rage; without o'erflowing, 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.