Also 5 contreste, -tryste. [In 15th c., contreste, a. OF. con-, cuntrester, contraster (= Pr., Sp. contrastar, It. contrastare) to resist, oppose:—late L. contrāstāre to withstand, f. L. contrā against + stāre to stand. Taken by Caxton from French in the etymological sense, in the form contrest, but not then retained in English use. Occas. used in 17th c. in form contrast from F. or It. Reintroduced as a term of Art in the end of the 17th c. from F. contraster, which was taken in 16th c. from It. contrastare to strive, contend, stand out against.]
I. In early use.
† 1. trans. To withstand, resist, fight against.
1489. Caxton, Faytes of A., II. xii. 112. He contrested or gaynstode hym in bataylle. Ibid. (1490), Eneydos, xxvii. 96. He myght not withstande ne contreste the … tribulacion of the see.
b. intr. To resist; to strive, contend.
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, xiv. 50. The goode renomme of Elysse myghte notte contryste ayenste her grete desire.
1673. O. Walker, Education, 227. Let us not contrast with the whole World, as if we were universall reformers.
1688. [see CONTRASTING vbl. sb.].
II. In Modern English.
2. trans. Fine Arts. To put in contrast, to place in such juxtaposition as to bring strongly out differences of form, color, etc., and thus to produce a striking effect.
1695. Dryden, Art Paint., Wks. 1808, XVII. 421. Contrasted by contrary motions, the most noble parts foremost in sight.
1715. J. Richardson, Th. Paint., 125. The Colours must be also Contrasted … so as to be grateful to the Eye.
1768. W. Gilpin, Ess. Prints, 12. The figures of the principal group are very well contrasted.
3. gen. To set in opposition (two objects of like nature, or one with, rarely to, another) in order to show strikingly their different qualities or characteristics, and compare their superiorities or defects.
Usually of mental comparison only.
[1755–73. not in Johnson.]
1799. Med. Jrnl., I. 491. By emetics … fomentations, and above all, by suddenly contrasting the hot and cold bath.
1827. Whately, Logic, in Encycl. Metrop., 238/1. Perpetually contrasting it with systems with which it has nothing in common but the name.
1853. F. W. Newman, Odes of Horace, 113. Horace artificially contrasts the top to the basement of the mansion.
1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxf., v. He contrasted our hero with the few men with whom he generally lived.
1871. Yeats, Techn. Hist. Comm. (1872), 398. The microscope and telescope are well contrasted by Dr. Chalmers.
4. Of things: a. Of figures, colors, etc.: To set off (each other) by opposition or contrast.
1695. Dryden, Parallel Poetry & Paint. (R.). The figures of the groups … must contrast each other by their several positions.
1715. J. Richardson, Th. Paint., 124. In a Composition … one thing must Contrast, or be varied from another.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, X. i. The foibles and vices … become more glaring objects, from the virtues which contrast them, and shew their deformity.
1778. Sir J. Reynolds, Disc., viii. (1876), 449. In the artificial management of the figures it is directed that they shall contrast each other.
1801–15. Fuseli, Lect. Art, viii. (1848), 513. The brown and sun-tinged hermit and the pale decrepit elder contrast each other.
b. To offer or form a contrast to.
1767. S. Paterson, Another Trav., I. 91. The thin, transparent, black veil adown the face, contrasts the red and white.
1795. Cicely, II. 119. Monks whose dark garments contrasted the snow.
1837. Lytton, E. Maltravers, I. i. Her face singularly contrasted that of the man.
5. pass. of 4, in sense of next. Const. by, to.
1740. Warburton, Div. Legat., VI. vi. Wks. 1811, V. 46. Whose dexterity in the arts of Controversy was so remarkably contrasted by his abilities in reasoning and literature.
1773. R. Graves, Euphrosyne (1776), I. 24. A dome is built in yonder grove; Contrasted by a grand alcove. Ibid. (1779), Columella, II. 168. The pleasure which I have received … will be contrasted by that melancholy which succeeds to all our most exquisite enjoyments.
1823. J. F. Cooper, Pioneer, iii. The dark foliage of the evergreens was brilliantly contrasted by the glittering whiteness of the plain.
1863. Kinglake, Crimea, II. 220. The smooth slopes … are contrasted by the aspect of the country on the opposite bank.
1866. Rogers, Agric. & Prices, I. xviii. 415. Those habits of early sleeping and waking in which our ancestors were so contrasted with ourselves.
6. intr. a. To form a contrast. b. To exhibit a striking difference on comparison (with).
1715. J. Richardson, Th. Paint., 125. To unite the Contrasting Colours.
1820. W. Irving, Sketch Bk., I. 40. Her slender form contrasted finely with his tall, manly person.
1833. J. Rennie, Alph. Angling, 21. The most conspicuous colours and such as contrast best with the water.
1856. Froude, Hist. Eng. (1858), I. iv. 359. The language of the House of Commons contrasted favourably with that of the convocation.
1871. Palgrave, Lyr. Poems, 118. The happy tints contrasting glow.
