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an·them

(ănthəm)

1. A hymn of praise or loyalty.

2. A choral composition having a sacred or moralizing text in English.

3. A popular song, especially a rock song felt to sum up the attitudes or feelings associated with a period or social group.

[Middle English anteme, from Old English antefn, from Late Latin antiphōna, from Late Greek, from neuter pl. of antiphōnos, sounding in answer : anti-, in return; see ANTI- + phōnē, voice; see bhā-² in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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