[ 'antɪf(ə)n ]
■ noun a short sentence sung or recited before or after a psalm or canticle.
↘a musical setting of an ~.
↘a versicle or sentence sung by one choir in response to another.
Origin
ME: via eccles. L. from Gk antiphōna 'harmonies', neut. plural of antiphōnos 'responsive', from anti 'in return' + phōnē 'sound'.