enantio-

Opposite, opposing.

[Greek enantios, opposite.]

Two crystals or molecules are enantiomorphic (Greek morphē, form) if they are mirror images of each other and so cannot be superimposed; enantiomers (Greek meros, part) are pairs of molecules of this type. Two other examples are enantiodromia (Greek dromos, running), the tendency of things to change into their opposites, especially as a supposed governing principle of natural cycles and of psychological development; and enantiosis (Greek, a contradiction), a figure of speech in which what is meant is the opposite of what is said.

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