Abarim Publications' online Biblical Greek Dictionary

αντι

In compound words, the prefix αντι (anti-) emphasizes otherness and particularly previousness (as in our words "antique" and "antipasto") and substitution (as in the familiar term Antichrist).

Secondarily our prefix reflects opposition or contrariness (as in the verb αντιλεγω, antilego, to speak against). But it may just as well describe a formal and proper substitution (as in the word ανθυπατος, anthupateuo, meaning proconsul, a deputy governor who acted in the stead of a consul).

Our prefix features in a vast list of compound words, but its true derivations, or compounds that consists of other common prefixes, are:

• The verb ανταω (antao), meaning to come opposite to or meet face to face (when combined with a dative), or to meet with (either friendly or in battle) or take part in (when combined with a genitive). This verb is not used in the New Testament, but from it come:
  • Together with the preposition απο (apo), meaning from: the verb απανταω (apantao), meaning to go to meet: move away from a place in order to meet someone somewhere else. This term was frequently used as a military term (to march out to engage some enemy army), or as a legal term (to leave one's home in order to meet one's opponent in court). It is used 7 times, see full concordance, and from it in turn comes:
    • The noun απαντησις (apantesis), meaning a meeting, a rendezvous, a planned encounter. It occurs 4 times; see full concordance.
  • Together with the preposition κατα (kata), meaning down from, down upon: the verb κατανταω (katantao), to arrive at some sort of anticipated encounter or confrontation. But rather than describing a mere arriving, this verb emphasizes the resulting encounter at the end of some process or journey. In rhetoric and narrative, this verb served to describe arriving at some anticipated point or grand unveiling. It's used 13 times; see full concordance.
  • Together with the preposition συν (sun), meaning together or with: the verb συνανταω (sunantao), meaning to get together; to jointly meet a third party (Luke 9:37), or to meet in order to be joined or united (Acts 10:25). This verb is used 6 times, see full concordance, and from it comes:
    • The noun συναντησις (sunantesis), meaning a meeting (Matthew 8:34 only).
  • Together with the preposition υπο (hupo), meaning under or beneath: the verb υπανταω (hupantao), meaning to meet "under", which either literally means underneath something (like a particular constellation), or else under the stipulations of a plan, contract, obligation, hunch, provocation, correspondence (to some fashion or rule), or other such compelling reasons. This verb is used 5 times, see full concordance, and from it comes:
    • The noun υπαντησις (hupantesis), meaning a meeting under some plan or obligation or some authority (John 12:13 only).
• The adverb αντικρυ (antikru), meaning opposite to or over against (Acts 20:15 only).
• The adjective and adverb αντιος (antios), which describes (or modifies the description of) a thing which is anti or that acts anti. It's not used in the New Testament, but from it derives:
  • Again together with the preposition εν (en), meaning in, on, at: the adjective εναντιος (enantios), which, like the adverb εναντι (enanti), describes a thing that is within the space or characteristic or entity that is opposite, in place of, in reaction to, and so on. It's used 8 times in the New Testament, see full concordance, and from it in turn derive:
    • The adverb εναντιον (enantion), which is the neutral form of the previous, and is used in the meaning of in-front-of. This neutral form occurs 5 times, see full concordance, and from it comes:
      • Together with the neutral definite article το (to): the adjective or adverb τουναντιον (tounantion), meaning contrarily, obstinately (2 Corinthians 2:7, Galatians 2:7 and 1 Peter 3:9 only).
    • Again together with the preposition υπο (hupo) meaning under: the adjective υπεναντιος (hupenantios), meaning opposed but in some secret or covert or stealthily way (Colossians 2:14 and Hebrews 10:27 only).
• Together with the preposition εν (en), meaning in, on, at: the adverb εναντι (enanti), which literally describes a presence within the space directly in front of something else, or within an opposite room, or within something that represent something else, and so on. It's used in the New Testament in Luke 1:8 only, where it relates to space directly adjacent (anti) the inner sanctum (the "of-God" or "the room of God"). From it in turn come:
  • Again together with the preposition απο (apo), meaning from: the adverb απεναντι (apenanti), meaning from being in the opposite, or from in front [of something specified]. The use of these adverbs in the speak-talk of Koine Greek was probably not governed by too strict a set of rules, but in general it would describe the first degree of separation away from being within the space directly adjacent something else — i.e. when the Mary's sat down, they did so not smack at the tomb of Jesus but just a step or so away (Matthew 27:61). This adverb is used 6 times; see full concordance.
  • Again together with the preposition κατα (kata), meaning down from, down upon: the adverb κατεναντι (katenanti), meaning down in the opposite, down-in-front. As with the previous adverb, this adverb is rather a kind of verbal shorthand than a precise locator. It's used 5 times; see full concordance.

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