Emily Dickinson Lexicon

ANTIPH'O-NY, n. [αντι, contrary, and φωνη, voice.]

1. The answer of one choir to another, when an anthem or psalm is sung by two choirs; alternate singing.
2. A species of psalmody, when a congregation is divided into two parts, and each sings the verses alternately. – Encyc.
3. The words given out at the beginning of a psalm, to which both the choirs are to accommodate their singing. – Encyc.
4. A musical composition of several verses, extracted from different psalms. – Encyc.