contrary — English Dictionary

Adjective

1. Opposite; in an opposite direction; in opposition; adverse.

   Examples

   contrary winds

   And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me[…]

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   We have lost our labour; they are gone a contrary way.

2. Opposed; contradictory; inconsistent.

   Examples

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   Galileo [Galilei]'s zeal for his opinions soon led him again to bring the question under the notice of the Pope, and the result was a declaration of the Inquisition that the doctrine of the earth's motion appeared to be contrary to the sacred scripture.

3. Given to opposition; perverse; wayward.

   Examples

   a contrary disposition; a contrary child

Adverb

1. Contrarily

   Examples

   I never act contrary to my principles.

Noun

1. The opposite.

   Examples

   No contraries hold more antipathy Than I and such a knave.

2. One of a pair of propositions that cannot both be simultaneously true, though they may both be false.

   Examples

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   If two universals differ in quality, they are contraries; as, every vine is a tree; no vine is a tree. These can never be both true together; but they may be both false.

3. A type of loaded die.

   Usage

   • Historical

Verb

1. To oppose; to frustrate.

   Usage

   • Obsolete

   Examples

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   You that be of the court, & eſpecially ye ſworn chaplains beware of a leſſon that a great man taught me at my firſt coming to the court he told me for a good will, he thoughte it wel. He ſayd vnto me. You muſt beware how ſo euer ye do that ye cõtrary not the king, let him haue his ſaiyngs, folow him, go with him. Mary out vpon this counſel, ſhal I ſay, as he ſayes?

   The Athenians having left the enemie in their owne land, for to pass into Sicilie, had very ill successe, and were much contraried by fortune[…].

2. To impugn.

   Usage

   • Obsolete

3. To contradict (someone or something).

   Usage

   • Obsolete

   Examples

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   thus wilfully sir Palomydes dyd bataille with yow & as for hym sir I was not gretely aferd but I dred fore laūcelot that knew yow not Madame said Palomydes ye maye saye what so ye wyll I maye not contrary yow but by my knyghthode I knewe not sir Tristram

   I finde them everie one in his turne to have reason, although they contrary one another.

4. To do the opposite of (someone or something).

   Usage

   • Obsolete

5. To act inconsistently or perversely; to act in opposition to.

   Usage

   • Obsolete

6. To argue; to debate; to uphold an opposite opinion.

   Usage

   • Obsolete

7. To be self-contradictory; to become reversed.

   Usage

   • Obsolete

Adjective

1. very opposed in nature or character or purpose

   Examples

   acts contrary to our code of ethics

   the facts point to a contrary conclusion

2. of words or propositions so related that both cannot be true but both may be false

   Examples

   ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ are contrary terms

3. resistant to guidance or discipline

   Synonyms

   obstinateperversewayward

   Examples

   Mary, Mary, quite contrary

   an obstinate child with a violent temper

   More examples (2)

   a perverse mood

   wayward behavior

4. in an opposing direction

   Synonyms

   adverse

   Examples

   adverse currents

   a contrary wind

Noun

1. a relation of direct opposition

   Synonyms

   reverseopposite

   Broader terms

   oppositionoppositeness

   Examples

   we thought Sue was older than Bill but just the reverse was true

2. exact opposition

   Broader terms

   oppositionoppositeness

   Examples

   public opinion to the contrary — that he is not guilty

3. a logical relation such that two propositions are contraries if both cannot be true but both can be false

   Broader terms

   logical relation