v. Also 6 (Sc.) contro-, 7 conterveen. [ad. F. contreven-ir ‘to swarue, transgresse, decline, go, or depart from; to do contrarie to promise, or otherwise than was agreed; also, to crosse, thwart, contradict, resist, or be against’ (Cotgr.):—L. contrāvenīre (Augustine) to come against, oppose.]
1. trans. Of persons: To go counter to; to transgress, infringe (a law, provision, etc.); to act in defiance or disregard of.
1567. Sc. Acts 1 Jas. VI. (1597), § 31. To be fre … from al paine … that may be incurred … for contravening of the samin [abrogated statutes].
1588. A. King, trans. Canisius’ Catech., K ij. Thay contrauene the vse of the Catholik kirk.
1609. Skene, Reg. Maj., 38. And na man sall break or contrawen this constitution.
1659. B. Harris, Parival’s Iron Age, 120. Which … they have conterveened, and contradicted.
a. 1677. Barrow, Serm. (1810), II. 495. By neglecting … or contravening these duties of humanity.
1783. Burke, E. India Bill, Wks. IV. 31. Either to conform to the tenour of the article, or to contravene it.
1878. Gladstone, Prim. Homer, 19. The cause is fundamentally righteous, and Zeus … cannot contravene it.
2. Of things, actions, etc.: To run counter to, be contrary to, come in conflict with.
a. 1670. Hacket, Abp. Williams, I. (1693), 137 (L.). This unfortunate accident did both contravene and overmatch the counsels of a hundred wise men.
1775. Johnson, Journ. W. Isl., Wks. X. 427. [Such] Laws … contravene the first principles of the compact of authority.
1793. T. Jefferson, Writ. (1859), IV. 30. To … warn them against acts which might contravene this duty.
1869. Farrar, Fam. Speech, i. (1873), 11. A belief which in reality contravened the distinct theory of their own sacred books.
3. To go counter to or oppose in argument; to contradict, dispute, deny (a proposition, etc.).
1722. Wollaston, Relig. Nat., vi. prop. 8. Nor can any one do this without contravening the truth contained in prop. VI.
1869. Huxley, in Sci. Opinion, 5 May, 505/1. Are those conclusions so firmly based that we may not contravene them?
1873. Browning, Red Cott. Nt.-cap, 200. Each inference … This you may test and try, confirm the right Or contravene the wrong that reasons there.
† 4. ? To incur (a charge). Sc. Obs.
1597. Sc. Acts Jas. VI. (1814), 124 (Jam.). That the saidis thrie erlis … had incurrit and controvenit the charge of treassoun.
