CONTRARY
adverse, contrary
(adjective) in an opposing direction; âadverse currentsâ; âa contrary windâ
contrary, obstinate, perverse, wayward
(adjective) resistant to guidance or discipline; âMary Mary quite contraryâ; âan obstinate child with a violent temperâ; âa perverse moodâ; âwayward behaviorâ
contrary
(adjective) very opposed in nature or character or purpose; âacts contrary to our code of ethicsâ; âthe facts point to a contrary conclusionâ
contrary
(adjective) of words or propositions so related that both cannot be true but both may be false; ââhotâ and âcoldâ are contrary termsâ
contrary
(noun) a logical relation such that two propositions are contraries if both cannot be true but both can be false
contrary
(noun) exact opposition; âpublic opinion to the contrary he is not guiltyâ
reverse, contrary, opposite
(noun) a relation of direct opposition; âwe thought Sue was older than Bill but just the reverse was trueâ
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Adjective
contrary (comparative more contrary, superlative most contrary)
Opposite; in an opposite direction; in opposition; adverse.
Opposed; contradictory; inconsistent.
Given to opposition; perverse; wayward.
Adverb
contrary (comparative more contrary, superlative most contrary)
Contrarily
Noun
contrary (plural contraries)
The opposite.
(logic) One of a pair of propositions that cannot both be simultaneously true, , though they may both be false.
Synonyms
• witherward
Verb
contrary (third-person singular simple present contraries, present participle contrarying, simple past and past participle contraried)
(obsolete) To oppose; to frustrate.
(obsolete) To impugn.
(obsolete) To contradict (someone or something).
(obsolete) To do the opposite of (someone or something).
(obsolete) To act inconsistently or perversely; to act in opposition to.
(obsolete) To argue; to debate; to uphold an opposite opinion.
(obsolete) To be self-contradictory; to become reversed.
Source: Wiktionary
Con"tra*ry ( or ; 48), a. Etym: [OE. contrarie, contraire, F.
contraire, fr. L. contrarius, fr. contra. See Contra-.]
1. Opposite; in an opposite direction; in opposition; adverse; as,
contrary winds.
And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me. Lev.
xxvi. 21.
We have lost our labor; they are gone a contrary way. Shak.
2. Opposed; contradictory; repugnant; inconsistent.
Fame, if not double-faced, is double mouthed, And with contrary blast
proclaims most deeds. Milton.
The doctrine of the earth's motion appeared to be contrary to the
sacred Scripture. Whewell.
3. Given to opposition; perverse; forward; wayward; as, a contrary
disposition; a contrary child.
4. (Logic)
Definition: Affirming the opposite; so opposed as to destroy each other;
as, contrary propositions. Contrary motion (Mus.), the progression of
parts in opposite directions, one ascending, the other descending.
Syn.
– Adverse; repugnant; hostile; inimical; discordant; inconsistent.
Con"tra*ry, n.; pl. Contraries (.
1. A thing that is of contrary or opposite qualities.
No contraries hold more antipathy Than I and such a knave. Shak.
2. An opponent; an enemy. [Obs.] Chaucer.
3. the opposite; a proposition, fact, or condition incompatible with
another; as, slender proofs which rather show the contrary. See
Converse, n., 1. Locke.
4. (Logic)
Definition: See Contraries. On the contrary, in opposition; on the other
hand. Swift.
– To the contrary, to an opposite purpose or intent; on the other
side. "They did it, not for want of instruction to the contrary." Bp.
Stillingfleet.
Con"tra*ry, v. t. Etym: [F. contrarier. See Contrary, a.]
Definition: To contradict or oppose; to thwart. [Obs.]
I was advised not to contrary the king. Bp. Latimer.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition