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contrary - 6 dictionary results

con⋅trar⋅y

  [kon-trer-ee; for 5 also kuhn-trair-ee] adjective, noun, plural -trar⋅ies, adverb
Use contrary in a Sentence
–adjective
1. opposite in nature or character; diametrically or mutually opposed: contrary to fact; contrary propositions.
2. opposite in direction or position: departures in contrary directions.
3. being the opposite one of two: I will make the contrary choice.
4. unfavorable or adverse.
5. perverse; stubbornly opposed or willful.
–noun
6. something that is contrary or opposite: to prove the contrary of a statement.
7. either of two contrary things.
8. Logic. a proposition so related to another proposition that both may not be true though both may be false, as with the propositions “All judges are male” and “No judges are male.”
–adverb
9. in opposition; oppositely; counter: to act contrary to one's own principles.
—Idioms
10. by contraries, contrary to expectation.
11. on the contrary,
a. in opposition to what has been stated.
b. from another point of view: On the contrary, there may be some who would agree with you.
12. to the contrary,
a. to the opposite effect: I believe he is innocent, whatever they may say to the contrary.
b. to a different effect.
Origin:
1200–50; ME contrarie < AF < L contrārius. See contra-1 , -ary

Related forms:
con⋅trar⋅i⋅ly  [kon-trer-uh-lee, kuhn-trair-] , adverb
con⋅trar⋅i⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. contradictory, conflicting, counter. See opposite. 4. unfriendly, hostile. Contrary, adverse both describe something that opposes. Contrary conveys an idea of something impersonal and objective whose opposition happens to be unfavorable: contrary winds. Adverse suggests something more personally unfriendly or even hostile; it emphasizes the idea of the resulting misfortune to that which is opposed: The judge rendered a decision adverse to the defendant. 5. intractable, obstinate, headstrong, stubborn, pig-headed.

Antonyms:
4. favorable. 5. obliging, complaisant.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To contrary
con·trar·y   (kŏn'trěr'ē)   
adj.  
  1. Opposed, as in character or purpose: contrary opinions; acts that are contrary to our code of ethics.
  2. Opposite in direction or position: Our boat took a course contrary to theirs. See Synonyms at opposite.
  3. Music Moving in the opposite direction at a fixed interval: playing scales in contrary motion.
  4. Adverse; unfavorable: a contrary wind.
  5. also (kən-trâr'ē) Given to recalcitrant behavior; willful or perverse.
n.   pl. con·trar·ies
  1. Something that is opposite or contrary.
  2. Either of two opposing or contrary things: "Truth is perhaps . . . a dynamic compound of opposites, savage contraries for a moment conjoined" (A. Bartlett Giamatti).
  3. Logic A proposition related to another in such a way that if the latter is true, the former must be false, but if the latter is false, the former is not necessarily true.
adv.  In an opposite direction or manner; counter: The judge ruled contrary to all precedent in the case.

[Middle English contrarie, from Anglo-Norman, from Latin contrārius : contrā, against; see kom in Indo-European roots + -ārius, -ary.]
con'trar'i·ly (kŏn'trěr-ə-lē, kŏn-trâr'-) adv., con'trar'i·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Contrary

Con"tra*ry\ (? or ?; 48), a. [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) 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.

Contrary

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) 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.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : contrary
Spanish: contrario a,
German: entgegengesetzt,
Japanese: 反対の
More Translations »

contrary 
1340, from Anglo-Fr. contrarie, from L. contrarius "opposite, opposed," from contra "against." Contrary is often confused with converse and opposite. For the statement, "All men are mortal," the contrary is, "Not all men are mortal," the converse is, "All mortal beings are men," and the opposite is, "No men are mortal." The opposite is the most extreme form of the contrary.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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contrary

see on the contrary; to the contrary.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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