Also 7–8 -er. [a. L. contrādictor, agent-n. from contrādīcĕre to CONTRADICT; the variant in -er is formed on the English verb.] One who contradicts; one who speaks against, opposes, or denies what is asserted, claimed, proposed, etc.; a gainsayer.
1599–1623. Minsheu, Sp. Dict., Contradezidor, a gainesayer, a contradictor.
1612. T. Taylor, Comm. Titus i. 9. Stubborne and opposite contradictors of the truth.
1645. Milton, Tetrach. (1851), 207. In hope to find him a contradicter of Moses, and a condemner of Herod.
1727. Swift, State Irel., Wks. 1755, V. II. 161. If a gentleman happen to be a little more sincere … he is sure to have a dozen contradictors.
1825. Ld. Cockburn, Mem., 228. It is easy to make almost any hypothesis have an appearance of soundness when there is no contradictor.
1889. Ld. Watson, in Law Rep., 14 App. Cases 668. Re-trying … the same issues which have already been conclusively decided against him in a question with his proper contradictor.
