Antilabe is a dramatic technique in verse drama where a single metrical line is divided between two or more characters, with each speaking a portion of the line in rapid succession. This device creates a sense of urgency, tension, or heated dialogue, as the characters effectively share or interrupt each other's speech within the confines of a single poetic line. It is a hallmark of classical Greek tragedy and was frequently employed by Renaissance playwrights like Shakespeare to heighten dramatic intensity and mimic the natural flow of passionate or contentious conversation. The term comes from the Greek word meaning "to take up" or "to receive in turn," reflecting the way speakers take up the line from one another.

Greek term for shared dialogue lines in drama/verse. One line split between speakers. Common in Greek tragedy. Study tip: Watch for dramatic tension created by interrupted or completed thoughts.