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contrary

   Also found in: Legal, Acronyms, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.01 sec.
con·trar·y  (kntrr)
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 (kn-trâr) 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.
Idioms:
by contraries Obsolete
In opposition to what is expected.
on the contrary
In opposition to what has been stated or what is expected: I'm not sick; on the contrary, I'm in the peak of health.
to the contrary
To the opposite effect from what has been stated or what is expected: Despite what you say to the contary, this contract is fair.

[Middle English contrarie, from Anglo-Norman, from Latin contrrius : contr, against; see kom in Indo-European roots + -rius, -ary.]

contrari·ly (kntrr--l, kn-trâr-) adv.
contrari·ness n.

contrary [ˈkɒntrərɪ]
adj
1. opposed in nature, position, etc. contrary ideas
2. perverse; obstinate
3. (Transport / Nautical Terms) (esp of wind) adverse; unfavourable
4. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Botany) (of plant parts) situated at right angles to each other
5. (Philosophy / Logic) Logic (of a pair of propositions) related so that they cannot both be true at once, although they may both be false together Compare subcontrary [1] contradictory [3]
n pl -ries
1. the exact opposite (esp in the phrase to the contrary)
on the contrary quite the reverse; not at all
3. either of two exactly opposite objects, facts, or qualities
4. (Philosophy / Logic) Logic a statement that cannot be true when a given statement is true
adv (usually foll by to)
1. in an opposite or unexpected way contrary to usual belief
2. in conflict (with) or contravention (of) contrary to nature
[from Latin contrārius opposite, from contrā against]
contrariness  n
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.contrarycontrary - a relation of direct opposition; "we thought Sue was older than Bill but just the reverse was true"
oppositeness, opposition - the relation between opposed entities
2.contrary - exact opposition; "public opinion to the contrary he is not guilty"
oppositeness, opposition - the relation between opposed entities
3.contrary - a logical relation such that two propositions are contraries if both cannot be true but both can be false
logical relation - a relation between propositions
Adj.1.contrary - very opposed in nature or character or purpose; "acts contrary to our code of ethics"; "the facts point to a contrary conclusion"
different - unlike in nature or quality or form or degree; "took different approaches to the problem"; "came to a different conclusion"; "different parts of the country"; "on different sides of the issue"; "this meeting was different from the earlier one"
2.contrary - of words or propositions so related that both cannot be true but both may be false; "`hot' and `cold' are contrary terms"
antonymous - of words: having opposite meanings
3.contrary - resistant to guidance or discipline; "Mary Mary quite contrary"; "an obstinate child with a violent temper"; "a perverse mood"; "wayward behavior"
disobedient - not obeying or complying with commands of those in authority; "disobedient children"
4.contrary - in an opposing direction; "adverse currents"; "a contrary wind"
unfavorable, unfavourable - (of winds or weather) tending to hinder or oppose; "unfavorable winds"

contrary
adjective
1. opposite, different, opposed, clashing, counter, reverse, differing, adverse, contradictory, inconsistent, diametrically opposed, antithetical His sister was of the contrary opinion to his.
opposite consistent, parallel, harmonious, in agreement, unopposed, congruous, accordant
2. perverse, difficult, awkward, wayward, intractable, wilful, obstinate, cussed (informal), stroppy (Brit. slang), cantankerous, disobliging, unaccommodating, thrawn (Scot. & Northern English dialect) Why must she always be so contrary?
perverse willing, helpful, obliging, accommodating, cooperative, agreeable, amiable, eager to please, tractable
noun
opposite, reverse, converse, antithesis Let me assure you that the contrary is, in fact, the case.
contrary to at odds with, counter to, in opposition to Contrary to popular belief, moderate exercise actually decreases your appetite.
on the contrary quite the opposite or reverse, on the other hand, in contrast, conversely The government must, on the contrary, re-establish its authority
Translations
contrary [ˈkɒntrərɪ]
A. ADJ
1. [direction] → contrario; [opinions] → opuesto
contrary toen contra de, contrario a
contrary to what we thoughten contra de lo que pensábamos
2. [kənˈtrɛərɪ] (= perverse) → terco
B. Ncontrario m
on the contraryal contrario, todo lo contrario
quite the contrarymuy al contrario
he holds the contraryél sostiene lo contrario
the contrary seems to be trueparece que es al revés
I know nothing to the contraryyo no sé nada en sentido contrario
unless we hear to the contrarya no ser que nos digan lo contrario

contrary3 [ˈkɒntrəri]
adj [idea, view] → contraire, opposé(e)
ncontraire m
on the contrary → au contraire
quite the contrary → bien au contraire
unless you hear to the contrary → sauf avis contraire, sauf contrordre
adv
contrary to → contrairement à
contrary to what we thought → contrairement à ce que nous pensions

contrary4 [kənˈtrɛəri] adj (= perverse) [person] → contrariant(e), entêté(e)

contrary1
adj (= opposite)entgegengesetzt; effect, answer alsogegenteilig; (= conflicting) views, statements alsogegensätzlich; (= adverse) winds, tideswidrig; in a contrary directionin entgegengesetzter Richtung; something is contrary to somethingetw steht im Gegensatz zu etw; it is contrary to our agreementes entspricht nicht unseren Abmachungen; to run contrary to somethingeiner Sache (dat)zuwiderlaufen; contrary to naturewider die Natur; contrary to our hopes/intentionswider all unsere Hoffnungen/Absichten, entgegen unseren Hoffnungen/Absichten; contrary to what I expectedentgegen meinen Erwartungen
nGegenteil nt; on the contraryim Gegenteil; the contrary of what I expecteddas Gegenteil von dem, was ich erwartet hatte; unless you hear to the contrarysofern Sie nichts Gegenteiliges hören; statement/evidence to the contrarygegenteilige Aussage/gegenteiliger Beweis; quite the contraryganz im Gegenteil

contrary2
adjwiderborstig, widerspenstig; person alsovoll Widerspruchsgeist; horsewiderspenstig

contrary [ˈkɒntrərɪ; ɐadj b kənˈtrɛərɪ]
1. adj
a. contrary (to)contrario/a (a), opposto/a (a)
contrary to nature → contro natura
contrary to what we thought → a differenza di or contrariamente a quanto pensavamo
b. (self-willed) → difficile, cocciuto/a, bisbetico/a
2. ncontrario
on the contrary → al contrario
unless you hear to the contrary → salvo contrordine

contrary [ˈkɒntrərɪ; ɐadj b kənˈtrɛərɪ]
1. adj
a. contrary (to)contrario/a (a), opposto/a (a)
contrary to nature → contro natura
contrary to what we thought → a differenza di or contrariamente a quanto pensavamo
b. (self-willed) → difficile, cocciuto/a, bisbetico/a
2. ncontrario
on the contrary → al contrario
unless you hear to the contrary → salvo contrordine

contrary1
adj contrary [ˈkontrəri]
(often withto) opposite (to) or in disagreement (with) That decision was contrary to my wishes; Contrary to popular belief he is an able politician. teenstrydig مُتَناقِض، مُضاد، مُعاكِس противоположен proti, navzdory (čemu) stik imod; i modsætning til entgegengesetzt αντίθετος contrario a vastupidine مخالف؛ ضد vastakkainen, päinvastainen contraire (à); contrairement (à) לְהֵיפֵך विपरीत suprotan, protivan ellentétes berlawanan andstæður contrario; contrariamente 反対の 정반대의 priešingas pretējs bertentangan in strijd met motsatt, i strid med, stikk imot przeciwny, niezgodny contrário con­trar противоположный opačný nasproten suprotan i strid mot (med), motsatt, i motsats till ตรงกันข้าม aksi(ne) 相反的 протилежний; супротивний برخلاف، برعكس trái ngược
n
(withthe) the opposite. teenoorgestelde ضِد، نَقيض، عَكس противоположност opak det modsatte das Gegenteil το αντίθετο contrario vastand خلاف؛ ضد vastakohta contraire הָהֵיפֵך विरोधी, प्रतिकल suprotnost, opreka az ellenkező(je vminek) lawan andstæða contraddire 반대 priešingybė pretējais; pretējība bertentangan tegendeel det motsatte przeciwieństwo contrário opus противоположность opak nasprotje suprotnost motsats สิ่งที่ตรงกันข้าม tersi, aksi 相反 протилежне, супротивне متضاد، مخالف điều trái ngược
on the contrary
the very opposite (is true) Are you busy?' `No, on the contrary, I'm not doing anything at the moment.' inteendeel عَلى العَكس، عَلى الضَّد، عَلى النَّقيض напротив naopak tværtimod im Gegenteil αντιθέτως al contrario vastupidi برعکس päinvastoin au contraire לְהֵיפֵך बिल्कुल नहीं, उलटे nasuprot, naprotiv (éppen) ellenkezőleg sebaliknya þvert á móti al contrario それどころか priešingai gluži otrādi sebaliknya in tegendeel tvert imot, derimot wprost przeciwnie pelo contrário dimpotrivă наоборот naopak nasprotno nasuprot tome tvärtom ในทางตรงกันข้าม tersi(ne), aksine 正相反 навпаки نهي‍ں بلک‍ہ ngược lại

contrary2
adj contrary [kənˈtreəri]
obstinate; unreasonable. stroomop مُعانِد، مُشاكِس противоречив paličatý vrangvillig; modvillig; tvær entgegen πεισματάρης, παράλογος terco, obstinado, que siempre lleva la contraria vastaline لجوج؛ کله شق uppiniskainen contrariant עַקשָן प्रतिकूल tvrdoglav, prgav makacs keras kepala, kebalikan þverlyndur いこじの 완고한 užsispyręs, priešgynus ietiepīgs suka membantah weerbarstig vrang(villig), obsternasig, motvillig, tverr przekorny teimoso încăpăţânat своенравный tvrdohlavý kljubovalen tvrdoglav motsträvig, enveten ดื้อดึง zıt, aykırı 彆扭的,故意作對的 упертий, свавільний ضدى، خودسر bướng bỉnh
n conˈtrariness
koppigheid تَناقُض، تَعاكُس дух на противоречие paličatost vrangvillighed, modvillighed; tværhed die Gegensätzlichkeit ξεροκεφαλιά, πείσμα terquedad, obstinación vastalisus لجاجت uppiniskaisuus esprit de contradiction דָווקָאוּת प्रतिकूलता suprotstavljanje, protivljenje ellenállás, ellentmondásra való hajlam sikap melawan þvermóðska spirito di contraddizione つむじ曲り 반대, 외고집 priešgynumas ietiepība bantahan weerbarstigheid vrangvillighet, obsternasighet przekora teimosia spirit de contradicţie своенравие tvrdohlavosť kljubovanje tvrdoglavost motsträvighet, envetenhet ความดื้อดึง zıtlık, aksilik 故意作對 упертість, свавілля تخالف، تضاد sự bướng bỉnh

contrary مُعَاكِس opak modsat Gegenteil αντίθετο contrario vastakohta contraire protivno contrario 正反対 반대 tegendeel motsetning przeciwieństwo contrário противоположность motsats การตรงกันข้าม karşıt điều trái ngược 反面


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What could be the contrary of any primary substance, such as the individual man or animal?
Not only doth he lie, who speaketh contrary to his knowledge, but more so, he who speaketh contrary to his ignorance.
To secure the favor and interest of this enterprising and powerful monarch, he precipitated England into a war with France, contrary to the plainest dictates of policy, and at the hazard of the safety and independence, as well of the kingdom over which he presided by his counsels, as of Europe in general.
 
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