a. [ad. Gr. ἀνατρεπτικ-ός turning up, overturning; f. ἀνατρέπ-ειν to turn up, to upset in argument; f. ἀνά up + τρέπ-ειν to turn.] Overturning, overthrowing; one of the subdivisions of Platonic Discourse.
1655–60. Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1701), 175/1. Agonistick [discourse is] Endeictic [or] Anatreptick.
1859. in Worcester.
