Lexic.us

Definition of Contrary

1. Noun. A relation of direct opposition. "We thought Sue was older than Bill but just the reverse was true"

2. Adjective. Very opposed in nature or character or purpose. "The facts point to a contrary conclusion"

3. Noun. Exact opposition. "Public opinion to the contrary he is not guilty"

4. Adjective. Of words or propositions so related that both cannot be true but both may be false. "`hot' and `cold' are contrary terms"

5. Noun. A logical relation such that two propositions are contraries if both cannot be true but both can be false.

6. Adjective. Resistant to guidance or discipline. "Wayward behavior"

7. Adjective. In an opposing direction. "A contrary wind"

Definition of Contrary

1. a. Opposite; in an opposite direction; in opposition; adverse; as, contrary winds.

2. n. A thing that is of contrary or opposite qualities.

3. v. t. To contradict or oppose; to thwart.

Definition of Contrary

1. Adjective. opposed in nature ¹

2. Adjective. strongly dissimilar ¹

3. Adverb. Contrarily ¹

4. Noun. The opposite. ¹

5. Noun. One of a pair of propositions that cannot both be simultaneously true. ¹

6. Verb. (obsolete) To oppose; to frustrate. ¹

7. Verb. (obsolete) To impugn. ¹

8. Verb. (obsolete) To contradict (someone or something). ¹

9. Verb. (obsolete) To do the opposite of (''someone'' or ''something''). ¹

10. Verb. (obsolete) To act inconsistently or perversely; to act in opposition ''to''. ¹

11. Verb. (obsolete) To argue; to debate; to uphold an opposite opinion. ¹

12. Verb. (obsolete) To be self-contradictory; to become reversed. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Contrary

1. an opposite [n -TRARIES] - See also: opposite

Lexicographical Neighbors of Contrary

contrarians contrariantly contraried contraries contrarieties contrariety contrarily contrariness contrarinesses contrarious

contrariously contrariousness contrariwise contrarotating contrarotation contrary (current term) contrary to contrary to fact contrarying contras

contrast contrast agent contrast bath contrast echocardiography contrast enema contrast enhancement contrast material contrast media contrast medium

Literary usage of Contrary

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Nicomachean Ethics of Aristotle by Aristotle, Robert Williams (1869)
"... either for virtue and happiness, or for the contrary. For all men choose what gives them pleasure, and avoid what gives them pain. ..."

Other Resources: