'antistrophal' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'antistrophē' (ἀντίστροφη / ἀντίστροφη), where the prefix 'anti-' meant 'against, opposite' and 'strophē' meant 'a turning, twist'.

'antistrophal' was formed in English from the noun 'antistrophe' (borrowed via Latin/French from Greek 'antistrophē') with the adjectival suffix '-al' to mean 'relating to an antistrophe'.

Initially related specifically to the 'antistrophe' section of ancient Greek choral odes ('a returning or answering turn'), it has come to be used more generally to describe anything that corresponds to or counters a preceding section or element.