Chiefly Sc.; now only dial. Forms: 4–5 contrare, 4–7 contrar, contraire, 5 contrayre, -eyre, -aier, -er, 6–9 contrair. [a. F. contraire (11th c.):—L. contrārius CONTRARY. (Orig. stressed contrai·r.)]
A. adj. CONTRARY, opposed, opposite.
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., B. 266. [Þay] controeued agayn kynde contrare werkez.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 5414. Froward Fortune and contraire.
1430. Lydg., Chron. Troy, III. xxv. How Troilus was contrayre For to ascende up on loue stayre.
1588. A. King, trans. Canisius’ Catech., 129 b. Contrar to pryde is humilitie.
1629. Rutherford, Lett., vi. (1862), I. 50. I fear the Lord be my contrair party.
1655–60. Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1701), 87/1. The contrar Party was too strong for them.
1707. Dk. Athol, in Vulpone, 21. Which … is contrair to the Fundamental Laws of this Nation.
1801. R. Gall, Tint Quey, 173. He was as contrair’s night’s frae day.
B. absol. or sb. The opposite or CONTRARY.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, I. 461. To veng the harme and the contrer, At that fele folk and pautener Dyd till sympill folk.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Pard. T., 267. It is reproef, and contrair of honour, For to be halde a comun hasardour.
1556. Lauder, Dewtie of Kyngis, 236. Wo be to thame that dois knaw Godds wourd, syne dois the contrar schaw.
1671. True Nonconf., 7. To obey God … rather then man commanding the contraire.
b. phr. By or to the contrair: on the contrary. In the contrair: on or to the contrary. In (the) contrair of or to: in opposition to, in spite of.
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., B. 4. Fayre formez myȝt he fynde … & in þe contrare, kark & combraunce huge.
a. 1578. Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 88. He was cassin in irons and hangit schamefullie as he had bene ane theif, nochtwithstanding the king commandit in the contrair.
c. 1450. Henryson, Mor. Fab., 37. This hound of hell Deuored hes my Lambe … in contrair to your cry.
a. 1587. Mary Q. Scots, in Keith, Hist., 333 (Jam.). In case he permitted thir lords to prevail in our contrare.
1640–1. Kirkcudbr. War-Comm. Min. Bk. (1855), 140. He never concurred in nothing that concernes the publict, bot be the contrair doeth controll the parochinares proceidings, etc.
1641. Act of Oblivion, in Neal, Hist. Purit. (1733), II. 483. His Majesty … promises … never to come in the Contrair of this Statute.
1748. Lady J. Douglas Stewart, Lett. Dk. Douglas, 7 Aug. (1767), 3. But to the contrair have regretted my ill fortune.
C. adv. Contrariwise.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot. (1885), 20. This kynde is verie rid, with black spotis amang, or contrare.
D. prep. Against, in opposition to.
c. 1500. Lancelot, 658. That is al contrare our entent.
1578. Psalm lxxvii., in Sc. Poems 16th C., II. 110. Speikand contrair thy godly Majesty.
1640–1. Kirkcudbr. War-Comm. Min. Bk. (1855), 140. Ane ordinar murmurer … contraire the proceidings of the Estaites.
