CONTRARY

adverse, contrary

(adjective) in an opposing direction; “adverse currents”; “a contrary wind”

contrary, obstinate, perverse, wayward

(adjective) resistant to guidance or discipline; “Mary Mary quite contrary”; “an obstinate child with a violent temper”; “a perverse mood”; “wayward behavior”

contrary

(adjective) very opposed in nature or character or purpose; “acts contrary to our code of ethics”; “the facts point to a contrary conclusion”

contrary

(adjective) of words or propositions so related that both cannot be true but both may be false; “‘hot’ and ‘cold’ are contrary terms”

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; “public opinion to the contrary he is not guilty”

reverse, contrary, opposite

(noun) a relation of direct opposition; “we thought Sue was older than Bill but just the reverse was true”

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



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Word of the Day

19 December 2024

PRESIDIUM

(noun) a permanent executive committee in socialist countries that has all the powers of some larger legislative body and that acts for it when it is not in session


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Coffee Trivia

Contrary to popular belief, coffee beans are not technically beans. They are referred to as such because of their resemblance to legumes. A coffee bean is a seed of the Coffea plant and the source for coffee. It is the pit inside the red or purple fruit, often referred to as a cherry. Just like ordinary cherries, the coffee fruit is also a so-called stone fruit.

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