Contrary a., sb., adv. (prep.)

Also 3–6 contrarye, 4–5 contrayri(e, 4–7 contrarie. [app. a. early OF. (retained in Anglo-Fr.) contra·rie, ad. L. contrāri-us opposite, hostile, etc., f. contrā against: cf. adversary and see -ARY. The later OF. form contraire gave the variant CONTRAIR, long retained in the north. The original stress, after F. and L., was contra·rie, but the poets, from Chaucer to Spenser and Shakespeare, use both contra·ry and co·ntrary (the latter the more frequent in Shaks.); of contrā·ry, many instances occur in 17th-c. verse; it is the only pronunciation recognized by Bailey (died 1742), and it is still app. universal in dialect and uneducated speech, esp. in sense 3 b, which is now confined to these forms of speech and to the nursery. Co·ntrary was used by Milton and Pope, and is given by Johnson (though he retained contra·rily, contra·riness, contra·riwise) and in all later dictionaries.

  Walker, 1791, says ‘The accent is invariably placed on the first syllable by all correct speakers, and as constantly removed to the second by the illiterate and vulgar’: where the words ‘placed on’ and ‘removed to’ should change places, but the usage described is that of the present day. Sometimes, however, dialectally, the sb. is made co·ntrary, while the adj. remains contra·ry.]

  A.  adj.

  1.  Opposed in nature or tendency; diametrically different, extremely unlike. Const. to; often with sense: Repugnant, antagonistic.

c. 1340.  Hampole, Prose Tr., 13. Blendid with na thynge þat es contrayrie thareto.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 362. [This] is contrarie to love of Crist.

1485.  Caxton, Paris & V. (1868), 11. Other … helde contrarye oppynyon.

1535.  Coverdale, Job xxi. 34. Are not youre answeres cleane contrary to right and treuth?

1577.  B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., II. (1586), 60 b. Among all other hearbes, only the Onyon is not subject to the force of the moone, but hath a contrarie power.

a. 1628.  Preston, New Covt. (1634), 450. Now you know, life is contrary to death.

1722.  Sewel, Hist. Quakers (1795), I. Pref. 7. Fighting, they have always counted … contrary to the doctrine of our Saviour.

1886.  Morley, France in 18th C., Crit. Misc. III. 266. M. Taine goes to the contrary extreme.

  † b.  Former const. of, from, than, against, with.

a. 1450.  Knt. de la Tour, 3. The manere contrarie of goodness.

c. 1530.  Ld. Berners, Arth. Lyt. Bryt. (1814), 385. Al suche … that be contrary ayenst your mynde.

1531.  Tindale, Exp. (1849), 182. They … disguise themselves … to signify ever a contrary thing than that they be.

1556.  J. Olde, Antichrist, 106. A farre contrary penaunce from this.

1659.  Burton’s Diary (1828), IV. 450. This is a council directly contrary from a council of war.

1665.  Boyle, Occas. Refl. (1669), 273. Architects have, indeed, made themselves a name, but upon a quite contrary account than they intended or expected.

1761.  Mrs. F. Sheridan, S. Bidulph, II. 92. Producing the direct contrary effect from what I intended.

  c.  Opposite to each other; mutually opposed.

1413.  Lydg., Pilgr. Sowle, IV. xxxviii. (1859), 67. Worship and couetyse acordeth not to geders, but they ben euen contrary.

1597.  Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lxv. § 12. Contrary diseases should always have contrary remedies.

1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 125, ¶ 5. Two contrary Characters, as opposite to one another as Light and Darkness.

  † d.  in weaker sense: Different, other. Obs.

1576.  Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 253. There is also some advauntage … to write that downe … in wordes of a contrarie tongue.

1599.  Thynne, Animadv. (1865), 19. He came of a contrarye howse to the Gowers of Stytenhame.

1696.  J. F., Merchant’s Ware-ho., 23. The other sort is under yard wide, and by reason of its contrary bredth is of little use.

  2.  The opposite, the opposed, the other (of two things).

c. 1340.  Hampole, Prose Tr., 24. On the contrary wise who so hatith gret rewarde [etc.].

1581.  J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 450 b. These Catholickes on the contrary side doe cry out … that he is an Heretique.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., III. i. 47. All ignorant of her contrary sex.

1611.  Bible, Titus ii. 8. That hee that is of the contrarie part, may bee ashamed.

1634.  Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 146. The King weares the contrary side of his Tulipant forwards.

1875.  E. White, Life in Christ, V. xxviii. (1878), 479. As to the absolute ‘fewness’ … this is an invention of the contrary part.

  † b.  Opposite to the proper or right one; ‘the wrong.’ Obs. rare.

1595.  Shaks., John, IV. ii. 198. Slippers, which his nimble haste Had falsely thrust vpon contrary feete. Ibid. (1596), Merch. V., I. ii. 105. Set a deepe glasse of Reinish-wine on the contrary Casket.

  † 3.  Of persons and their actions: Actively opposed, antagonistic, hostile. Obs. exc. as in b.

c. 1340.  Cursor M., 14461 (Trin.). Þei were ful of enuye To god & mon myche contrarye.

1340.  Hampole, Pr. Consc., 1045. Na man may serve rightly Twa lordes to-gedir, þat er contrary.

c. 1385.  Chaucer, L. G. W., 1356, Dido. Syn that the goddes been contrarye to me.

1535.  Coverdale, Ps. cviii. (ix.) 3. For the loue that I had vnto them, they take now my contrary parte [= they take part against me].

1551.  Robinson, trans. More’s Utop., II. (Arb.), 137. They be hyered of contrarye prynces for a lytle moneye.

1598.  Yong, Diana, 53. I maruell Delia, who hath mooued thee to be so contrarie to her.

1623.  Bingham, Xenophon, 3. The King, as soon as he heard … of the Armie that Cyrus had raised, made contrarie preparation.

1662.  J. Bargrave, Pope Alex. VII. (1867), 38. In despite of the Spaniards, to whom he was much contrary.

  b.  Of antagonistic or untoward disposition, perverse, obstinately self-willed; contrarious. (Only in popular use, but prob. in all dialects, and commonly pronounced contrā·ry.)

Nursery Rhyme. Mary, Mary, quite contrary, How does your garden grow?

1852.  Mrs. Stowe, Uncle Tom’s C., vii. ‘Gals is nat’lly made contrary; and so, if you thinks they’ve gone one road, it is sartin you’d better go t’other.’

1875.  Parish, Sussex Dial., s.v., ‘She’d be just as contrairy as ever was a hog.’

1888.  Berkshire Gloss., s.v., ‘A turned contraayry an’ ’oodn’t lend his herse.’

  † 4.  Of things: Opposed to one’s well-being or interests; calculated to thwart or harm; prejudicial, unfavorable, untoward. Obs. exc. as in b.

c. 1477.  Caxton, Jason, 41. Thinges contrarye to their helthe and lyf.

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. (1546), R v b. The ayre of the lande was contrary to hym.

1655–60.  Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1701), 179/2. The estimation of mean things is contrary to a Man who intended to contemplate the truth of things.

1656.  Ridgley, Pract. Physick, 4. By reason of a contrary temper of the bowels.

1712.  J. James, trans. Le Blond’s Gardening, 210. You should choose a warm, dry Season, for working Basons of Ciment, the Rain being very contrary to it.

1737.  Whiston, Josephus’ Antiq., XV. vii. § 7. The remedies … did him no good … but proved contrary to his case.

  b.  esp. of wind, weather, etc. (Here there is contact with sense 5.)

1382.  Wyclif, Matt. xiv. 24. The wynd was contrarie.

1605.  Camden, Rem., 165. Repelled with contrarie winds.

1719.  De Foe, Crusoe (1840), II. i. 14. Contrary winds … put us to the northward.

1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 430. When the vessel is detained by contrary winds.

  † c.  Distasteful. Obs. rare.

1561.  Hollybush, Hom. Apoth., 30 a. All swete meates are contrarye to hym.

  5.  Opposite in position or direction; situated on the other side; moving the other way.

1382.  Wyclif, 1 Macc. iv. 12. And sawen hem cummynge of the contrarie part, or euen aȝein.

1483.  Cath. Angl., 75. Contra[r]y, contrarius loco.

1553.  Eden, Treat. Newe Ind., Ep. to Rdr. Antipodes … walke wyth theyr fete dyrectelye contrarye agaynst oures.

1571.  Digges, Pantom., II. ix. N j. Drawing lines from one angle to the contrarie.

1605.  Bp. Hall, Medit. & Vows, I. § 89. Wayes … either crosse or contrary.

1614.  Markham, Cheap Husb., I. ii. (1668), 16. Give him [the colt] a sound lash … over the contrary shoulder.

1678.  Hobbes, Decam., iv. 34. The stream of the Air shall be the contrary way.

1774.  Goldsm., Grecian Hist., I. 297. By a quite contrary way from that in which they then marched.

1874.  Boutell, Arms & Arm, ix. 178. The hilt has its cross-guard bent with a contrary curvature.

  b.  Mus. (See quot.)

1731.  G. Keller’s Thorow-Bass, in Holder, Treat. Harmony, 161. Sometimes used in contrary Motion.

1875.  Ouseley, Harmony, i. 11. Contrary motion is when two parts, or voices, move in opposite directions.

  c.  Bot. At right angles.

  d.  Math. Point of contrary flexure: see quot.

1796.  Hutton, Math. Dict., I. 636. Point of Inflection, or of contrary flexure, in a curve, is the point … where it begins to bend or turn a contrary way … or where the curve changes from concave to convex, or from convex to concave.

  6.  Logic (from sense 1). Contrary propositions: those most opposed to each other as regards affirmation and negation, each denying every possible case of the other, as All A is B: No A is B; both propositions cannot be true, but both may be false. Contrary terms: those which are extreme opposites within the same class, as black and white. Contrary opposition: the opposition of contrary propositions and terms.

1739.  Hume, Treat. Hum. Nat., I. v. 1874, I. 323. No two ideas are in themselves contrary, except those of existence and non-existence.

1753.  Chambers, Cycl. Supp., Contrary propositions … one of which affirms, and the other denies, the same predicate of the same subject.

1828.  Whately, Rhet., in Encycl. Metrop., 253/1. Two things are called ‘Contrary,’ which, coming under the same class, are the most dissimilar in that class.

1849.  Abp. Thomson, Laws Th. (1860), 150. Contrary opposition exists between affirmative and negative judgments which cannot be true together, but which may be false together.

1887.  Fowler, Deduct. Logic, 83. ‘Contrary terms,’ like good and bad, black and white.

  7.  Comb. (parasynthetic), as contrary-minded a., of the contrary opinion.

a. 1555.  Latimer, Serm. & Rem. (1845), 183. The most part of gospellers are contrary-minded.

1661.  Papers on Alter. Prayer Bk., 13. The contrary minded doubt whether with it he be lawfully served.

  B.  sb. [the adj. used absol.]

  1.  absol. The contrary: the exact opposite or reverse of what has previously been mentioned.

  (Sometimes used in taking the vote of those in a meeting who are opposed to the motion proposed, the chairman asking for the negative vote by the words the contrary, on the contrary, or to the contrary.)

c. 1250.  Kent. Serm., in O. E. Misc., 30. Þu hest ido þe contrarie.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. X. 396. Ac her werkes … was euere þe contrarye.

c. 1384.  Chaucer, H. Fame, II. 300. Bid hym proven the contrarye.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 9715. What puttes you in plite … To enclyne to þe contrary?

1576.  Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 89. I thought thus … albeit the contrarie chaunced.

1601.  Shaks., Twel. N., V. i. 15. Clo. The better for my foes, and the worse for my friends. Du. Iust the contrary: the better for thy friends.

1754.  Richardson, Grandison, II. iv. 34. Which … I had no command to take down; but the contrary.

1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 482. Is not this the direct contrary of what was admitted before.

  b.  phr. On the contrary (formerly by, for, in, of, to the contrary, in contrary): on the other hand, in contradistinction.

1393.  Gower, Conf., I. 360. And in contrarie also recouer A pouer man to grete richesse.

c. 1400.  Maundev. (1839), xi. 131. In the contrarye, toward the Southe, it is so hoot, that, [etc.].

1502.  Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W., 1506), I. vii. 79. And by the contrarye the bodyes of them that ben blessed they shall, [etc.].

1541.  R. Copland, Galyen’s Terapeutyke, 2 E iv. To the contrarye, where they haue estemed that it shulde be superflue to recyte, they haue, [etc.].

c. 1554.  Gracious Menewe, D vij b. But when on y^e contrarie they do, [etc.].

1557.  North, trans. Gueuara’s Diall Pr., 71 b/1. And for the contrary, there are other princes, [etc.].

1597.  Morley, Introd. Mus., Pref. This booke will be so farre from the hinderance of anie, that by the contrarie, it will cause, [etc.].

1653.  Cloria & Narcissus, I. 253. Of the contrary, Philos … began, [etc.].

1796.  Jane Austen, Pride & Prej., xxvi. Nothing, on the contrary, could be more natural.

  c.  phr. To († in) the contrary: to the opposite effect; in opposition to, or reversal of, what is stated.

1512.  Act 4 Hen. VIII., c. 10. Any acte … heretofore made to the contrary notwithstondyng.

1560–78.  Bk. Discipl. (1621), 5 [7]. Nothing alledged in the contrarie.

1595.  Shaks., John, III. i. 10. I haue a Kings oath to the contrarie.

1850.  McCosh, Div. Govt., IV. ii. (1874), 513. Whatever the gloomy and disappointed may say to the contrary.

  † 2.  Opposite position or side. In contrary of: opposite to. Obs.

c. 1325.  E. E. Allit. P., B. 1532. In contrary of þe candelstik … Þer apered a paume.

1611.  Shaks., Wint. T., I. ii. 372. Wafting his eyes to th’ contrary.

  † b.  That which is opposite in position. Obs.

c. 1400.  Maundev. (1839), xvii. 180. Men seen another Sterre, the contrarie to him … that is clept Antartyk.

  3.  An object, fact, or quality that is the very opposite of something else; often in pl. things the most different of their class.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Melib., ¶ 323. For good and wikkednesse ben tuo contraries.

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., VII. iii. (1495), 224. We hele contraryes wyth contraryes.

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 183 b. One contrary set nere another contrary is more apparent.

1605.  Shaks., Lear, II. ii. 93. No contraries hold more antipathy, Than I and such a knave.

1656.  Cowley, Pindar. Odes, To Mr. Hobs, vi. So Contraries on Ætna’s top conspire, Here hoary Frosts, and by them breaks out Fire.

1658.  Whole Duty Man, vi. § 13. 56. The second contrary to humility I told you was vain-glory.

1715.  J. Richardson, Th. Paint., 190. Where the two Contraries, the Masculine and Feminine Beauties are oppos’d.

1847.  Emerson, Poems, Initial Love, Wks. (Bohn), I. 458. Swifter-fashioned than the fairies, Substance mixed of pure contraries.

  b.  With possessive pron. His, its, etc., contrary.

1340.  Ayenb., 14. Þis article yefþ to onderstonde his contrarie.

c. 1540.  Pilgrim’s T., 288, in Thynne, Animadv., App. i. (1865), 85. But fyrst or I can bring mi purpos, I must his contrary disclos.

1598–9.  E. Forde, Parismus, I. (1661), 24. Who as far excelled all the rest … as the sun does the moon or white his contrary.

1711.  F. Fuller, Med. Gymn., 88. Mixing it with its contrary.

1841.  Myers, Cath. Th., IV. xii. 248. Changing an attribute into its contrary.

  c.  phr. By contraries: by way of opposition, by direct contrast; also, in the way just opposite to what might have been expected. So by rule (reason, argument) of contraries.

1545.  Ascham, Toxoph. (Arb.), 45. Medicines stande by contraries.

1605.  Bacon, Adv. Learn., I. viii. § 3. So by argument of contraries, the just and lawfull soveraignetie … is that which approacheth neerest to … the divine rule.

1610.  Shaks., Temp., II. i. 147. I’th’Commonwealth I vvould (by contraries) Execute all things.

a. 1675.  Lightfoot, in Rem. (1700), 141. The first proof of this is by the rule of contraries.

1828.  Blackw. Mag., Jan., 115. Thochts gang by the rule o’ contrairies.

  4.  Opposition, hostility; an act of hostility. In their contrary; in opposition to them. Obs.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Melib., ¶ 314. Þat right as þay han do me a contrarie, right so schold I do hem anoþer.

1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. cxlvi. 174. They of Calays hathe done hym suche contraryes and dispyghtes.

c. 1565.  Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (1728), 5. Archibald, earl of Douglas would concur with the chancellor in their contrary.

  † 5.  A denial, an opposing statement. Obs.

1555.  in Strype, Eccl. Mem., III. App. xliii. 119. Faith without deeds is dead, etc. Here are contraries to the carnal man.

c. 1555.  Harpsfield, Divorce Hen. VIII. (1878), 80. To perfect and finish our answer … we make a direct contrary to them.

1833.  Mrs. Browning, Prom. Bound, Poems 1850, I. 176. I will set No contrary against it.

  † 6.  An adversary, opponent, enemy. Obs.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 1001. Whethir he or thou May with his hundred … Sle his contrary.

c. 1430.  trans. T. à Kempis, 142. Þou art manly ynow, all þe wile no contrarie comeþ ayenst þe.

1549.  Hooper, Declar. Ten Commandm., vii. Wks. (Parker Soc.), 356. A strange nation, thy contraries and thy mortal enemies.

1622.  R. Hawkins, Voy. S. Sea (1847), 105. Our contraries … determined … to lay us abourd.

  7.  Logic. A contrary term or proposition; see A. 6.

1655–60.  Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1701), 175/2. This kind of Induction by Contraries, serves not for assertion, but confutation.

1828.  Whately, in Encycl. Metrop., 253/1. Virtue and vice are called Contraries, as being, both, ‘moral habits,’ and the most dissimilar of moral habits.

1864.  Bowen, Logic, vi. 162. Opposition … was first applied only to the relations between two Contraries.

  † 8.  In various elliptical uses, where the sb. may be understood from the context. Obs.

1532.  Dice-Play (Percy Soc.), 30. If ye lack contraries [= rival loaded dice] to crosbite him withall.

1590.  Shaks., Com. Err., IV. iv. 82. Is’t good to sooth him in these contraries?

  C.  adv.

  1.  In opposition or antagonism; contrarily, contrariwise (to).

1463.  Bury Wills (1850), 40. Remevyd … contrarye ageyn my wil.

1495.  Act 11 Hen. VII., c. 57, Preamb., That that he hath doon … contrary to the duetie of his aliegeaunce.

1611.  Bible, Lev. xxvi. 23–4. And if ye will … walke contrary vnto me: Then will I also walke contrary vnto you.

1616.  S. Ward, Coale fr. Altar (1627), 71. Contrary with the Prophet, they cry out, My fatnesse, my fatnesse.

1779–81.  Johnson, L. P., Savage, Wks. 1816, X. 282. The crime of writing contrary to what he thought.

1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), V. 364. Those … act contrary to nature.

  2.  Adversely to one’s well-being or wishes.

1497.  Bp. Alcok, Mons Perfect., C iij. The deuyll tempted hym sore contrary.

1548.  Hall, Chron., 152. Which thynges hapned all contrary by the destruccion of this good man.

1592.  Shaks., Rom. & Jul., III. ii. 64. What storme is this that blowes so contrarie?

1840.  Marryat, Poor Jack, xlvi. And cruel was the fair wind as wouldn’t blow contrary.

1886.  Jerome, Idle Thoughts (ed. 58), 63. Things do go so contrary like with me.

  3.  On the other hand, on the contrary. arch.

1549–62.  Sternhold & H., Ps. xxxvii. 17. God will it overthrow: Where contrary he doth preserve the humble men and low.

1599.  Thynne, Animadv. (1865), 19. But quite contrarye, Chaucer dothe submytte the correctione of his woorkes to Gower, [etc.].

1652.  Culpepper, Eng. Physic. (1809), 276. The seed thereof contrary doth bind the belly.

1835.  Browning, Paracelsus, I. 28. While, contrary, it has chanced, some idle day … gives birth at last To truth.

  4.  In an opposite or very different way; in Her. with the reverse effect; = COUNTER. (See 6.)

1596.  Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., V. v. 4. Would’st thou turne our offers contrary?

1703.  Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 215. For contrary to … Ivory Turners, they always dip the end of their Hook below the Rest. Ibid., 282. You must begin the two sides contrary.

  † 5.  In the opposite direction (to). Obs.

1613.  W. Browne, Brit. Past., II. v. To steere his boate contrary to the Sun.

1634.  Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 182. Towards Goa, we steering contrary.

  6.  Comb., as contrary-posed (sense 4).

1688.  R. Holme, Armoury, III. 341/1. The Crest … is … two Mill-stones, one contrary-posed to the other.

  † D.  prep. Against, contrary to. Obs.

c. 1430.  Lydg., Minor Poems (1840), 76. The world unsure, contrary al stablenesse, Whos joy is meynt ay withe adversite.

c. 1536.  in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. III. III. 44. Whiche was contrarie my mynde.