pple., a. and sb. Also 4–6 contrariaunt, 6 -yaunte, 7 contrareant, 7–9 contrarient. [a. OF. contrariant, -ent (Godef.), ad. med.L. contrāriāntem, pr. pple. of contrāriāre to oppose, f. L. contrārius CONTRARY; see -ANT.]
† A. pple. Acting contrary to, opposing. Obs.
c. 1400. Test. Love, I. (1560), 276 b/1. New doings contrariaunts such olde, often causen diseases. Ibid., II. (R.). Is not euery thing good that is contrariant and distroieng yuel?
B. adj.
1. Opposed, repugnant, contrary to.
1530. Rastell, Bk. Purgat., I. iii. Be all contraryaunte to not beyng.
1533–4. Act 25 Hen. VIII., c. 14. Lawes … repugnant, or contrariant to the … statutes of this realme.
1647. Jer. Taylor, Lib. Proph., xx. 252. Doctrines … such as are contrariant to Faith.
1747. Carte, Hist. Eng., I. 353. A message so contrariant to his views and wishes.
1842. H. E. Manning, Serm. (1848), I. v. 64. Other lawful affections are not contrariant to this, but contained in it.
2. Mutually opposed or antagonistic.
1560. A. L. trans. Calvin’s Foure Serm. Songe Ezech. (1574), iii. These two things are not contrariant.
1640. Howell, Dodona’s Gr. (1649), 17. Being principles it is no wonder that they are so contrareant.
1726. Ayliffe, Parerg., 255. The very Depositions of Witnesses … being false, various, contrariant, etc.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa (1811), VI. 347. The satisfaction we should otherwise take in contrariant overtures.
1874. Seebohm, Protest. Revol. (1887), 21. Classes so contrarient as the feudal lords, the townspeople, and the peasantry.
† 3. Opposed to one’s wishes or well-being; unfavorable, prejudicial; adverse; = CONTRARY a. 4.
1548. Hall, Chron., 117. The ayre of Paris, was somewhat contrariaunt to his pure complexion. Ibid. (1809), 287. The wynde so contrariant that she was fain to take land again.
1649. Jer. Taylor, Gt. Exemp., I. i. 3. The contrariant designes of malice.
† 4. Opposite in direction. Obs. rare.
1644. Bulwer, Chiron., 136. If the gainsaying Hand should have a contrarient motion.
C. sb. One who or that which is opposed in purpose or nature; a contrary.
1657. Burton’s Diary (1828), II. 4. Which did strongly build up the faith of the Contrariants.
1839. Bailey, Festus (1848), 32/1. All dark things brightened all contrariants blent.
1880. T. E. Webb, Goethe’s Faust, 64. And with strange recipes compounded contrariants in his crucible.
b. spec. in Eng. Hist. ‘A name heretofore given to the Barons that took part with Thomas Earl of Lancaster, against K. Edward II’ (Phillips, 1706).
1727–51. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Rotulus, It was not thought fit, in respect of their power, to call them rebels or traitors, but only contrarients.
[1867. Hales, in Percy Folio, I. 5. The theory that Robin Hood was … one of the Contrariantes (the Lancastrians) of Edward II’s time.]
