Link Centre Dictionary

contrary

cont·rary

UK/ˈkɒntɹəɹi/ US/kənˈtɹɛəɹi/ common
adjective (4) noun (3)

adjective

1.

very opposed in nature or character or purpose

  • “acts contrary to our code of ethics”
  • “the facts point to a contrary conclusion”
Similar
2.

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

  • “hot”
  • “cold”
Similar
3.

resistant to guidance or discipline

  • “Mary Mary quite contrary”
  • “an obstinate child with a violent temper”
  • “a perverse mood”
  • “wayward behavior”
Synonyms
Similar
4.

in an opposing direction

  • “adverse currents”
  • “a contrary wind”
Synonyms
Similar

noun

1.

a relation of direct opposition

  • “we thought Sue was older than Bill but just the reverse was true”
Synonyms
2.

exact opposition

  • “public opinion to the contrary he is not guilty”
3.

two propositions are contraries if both cannot be true but both can be false

Origin

From Middle English contrarie, compare French contraire, from Old French contraire, from Latin contrārius (“opposite, opposed, contrary”), from contrā (“against”).

Phrases

  • by contraries
  • canon by contrary motion
  • contrary to
  • on the contrary
  • quite the contrary
  • to the contrary

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.