In 1511, leaders in Mecca believed coffee stimulated radical thinking and outlawed the drink. In 1524, the leaders overturned that order, and people could drink coffee again.
CONTRAST
contrast
(noun) the act of distinguishing by comparing differences
contrast
(noun) the range of optical density and tone on a photographic negative or print (or the extent to which adjacent areas on a television screen differ in brightness)
contrast
(noun) the perceptual effect of the juxtaposition of very different colors
line, dividing line, demarcation, contrast
(noun) a conceptual separation or distinction; “there is a narrow line between sanity and insanity”
contrast, direct contrast
(noun) the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared; “in contrast to”; “by contrast”
contrast
(verb) put in opposition to show or emphasize differences; “The middle school teacher contrasted her best student’s work with that of her weakest student”
contrast, counterpoint
(verb) to show differences when compared; be different; “the students contrast considerably in their artistic abilities”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
contrast (countable and uncountable, plural contrasts)
(countable) A difference in lightness, brightness and/or hue between two colours that makes them more or less distinguishable.
(uncountable) The degree of this difference.
(countable) A control on a television, etc, that adjusts the amount of contrast in the images being displayed.
(countable) A difference between two objects, people or concepts.
(countable, uncountable, rhetoric) Antithesis.
Verb
contrast (third-person singular simple present contrasts, present participle contrasting, simple past and past participle contrasted)
(transitive) To set in opposition in order to show the difference or differences between.
(intransitive) To form a contrast.
Source: Wiktionary
Con*trast", v. i. [imp. & p.p. Contrasted; p.pr. & vb.n. Contrasting.] Etym: [F. contraster, LL. contrastare to resist, withstand, fr. L. contra + stare to stand. See Stand.]
Definition: To stand in opposition; to exhibit difference, unlikeness, or opposition of qualities. The joints which divide the sandstone contrast finely with the divisional planes which separate the basalt into pillars. Lyell.
Con*trast", v. t.
1. To set in opposition, or over against, in order to show the differences between, or the comparative excellences and defects of; to compare by difference or contrariety of qualities; as, to contrast the present with the past.
2. (Fine Arts)
Definition: To give greater effect to, as to a figure or other object, by putting it in some relation of opposition to another figure or object. the figures of the groups must not be all on side . . . but must contrast each other by their several position. Dryden.
Con"trast, n. Etym: [F. contraste: cf. It. contrasto.]
1. The act of contrasting, or the state of being contrasted; comparison by contrariety of qualities. place the prospect of the soul In sober contrast with reality. Wordsworth.
2. Opposition or dissimilitude of things or qualities; unlikeness, esp. as shown by juxtaposition or comparison. The contrasts and resemblances of the seasons. Whewell.
3. (Fine Arts)
Definition: The opposition of varied forms, colors, etc., which by such juxtaposition more vividly express each other's pecularities. Fairholt.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
12 January 2025
HABIT
(noun) (psychology) an automatic pattern of behavior in reaction to a specific situation; may be inherited or acquired through frequent repetition; “owls have nocturnal habits”; “she had a habit twirling the ends of her hair”; “long use had hardened him to it”
Coffee Trivia
