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ἀντικρύ

antikrý

G481 preposition

SILEX Entry

Definition

Facing, directly opposite; indicates spatial orientation of someone or something as immediately or exactly across from another, often used adverbially to modify verbs of seeing, speaking, standing, or traveling. By extension, used metaphorically for direct opposition or confrontation.

Semantic Range

directly opposite, face-to-face, over against, across from, in immediate opposition

Root / Etymology

From the preposition ἀντί (over against, opposite, in place of) combined with the adverbial suffix -κρύ, related to κρῦς, denoting direction or position. Thus, ἀντικρύ literally means 'directly across from, face-to-face.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical and Hellenistic Greek, ἀντικρύ commonly appears in prose and poetry to denote precise, face-to-face spatial opposition, whether between persons, objects, or places. It often strengthens the sense of the basic preposition ἀντί by adding directness or immediacy. In the Septuagint and New Testament, the word retains this adverbial sense, used for clarity in narrative description (e.g., 'standing directly opposite' or 'sailing across to'). Modern translations often render the term as 'opposite,' 'over against,' or 'directly facing,' though sometimes nuance is lost if simply translated 'over against.' The term does not convey antagonism itself, but can acquire confrontational shading contextually. Less frequent in papyri outside formal or literary registers.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

prolonged from ἀντί; opposite:--over against.

Root Family

ἀντικρύ (antikrý) — opposite, facing, directly across

Root ἀντικρύ- opposite, facing, directly across

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G481-01 ἄντικρυς antikrus PREP GEN opposite directly opposite directly opposite 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G481-01 Acts 20:15 ἄντικρυς antikrus PREP GEN opposite directly opposite directly opposite
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