anteros

A1N1T1E1R1O1S1

noun

The counterlove or affectionate response a philerast gives to the love of an erastes.

OriginAncient Greek ἀντέρως →
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Meanings

nounanteros (uncountable)

alternative anterôs · alternative anterōs

  1. historicaluncountableAncient GreeceThe counterlove or affectionate response a philerast gives to the love of an erastes.

    The loved one, in turn, thus subject to the fiery soul of the lover, experiences anteros, a counterlove whose calm consent amounts to very filial affection […]

    1987, Julia Kristeva, Tales of love, page 66

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekἀντέρως
  2. Englishanteros

From Ancient Greek ἀντέρως (antérōs), reputedly coined by Plato. That in turn comes from ἀντί (antí, “against”) + ἔρως (érōs, “love”), hence the translation as counterlove.

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

senatortreasonEastnorSantoreasteronsanteroseatron
Cite this entry
APA

anteros. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/anteros

MLA

“anteros.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/anteros. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “anteros,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/anteros.

Source: anteros on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.