Obs. rare. [F., orig. a hunting term, = the opposite track, the wrong way; hence, the contrary; f. contre- and pied foot, footing, etc.] The contrary course; the opposite.
1773. Gentl. Mag., XLIII. 549. Gravina idolized the ancients; and, perhaps, Metastasio, taking the contrepied, respects them too little.
1846. Morning Post, 20 May, 5/5. They took the contre-pied of the programme imposed by reason on every Government—cede sometimes, resist almost always.
