Contraries

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.