Contrary Definition & Meaning | Bay Area Crosswords

About The Word Contrary

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Contrary

Contrary Definition And Meaning
What's The Definition Of Contrary? [n] two propositions are contraries if both cannot be true but both can be false [n] exact opposition; "public opinion to the contrary he is not guilty" [n] a relation of direct opposition; "we thought Sue was older than Bill but just the reverse was true" [adj] in an opposing direction; "adverse currents"; "a contrary wind" [adj] resistant to guidance or discipline; "Mary Mary quite contrary"; "an obstinate child with a violent temper"; "a perverse mood"; "wayward behavior" [adj] very opposed in nature or character or purpose; "acts contrary to our code of ethics"; "the facts point to a contrary conclusion" [adj] of words so related that both cannot be true but both may be false; "`hot' and `cold' are contrary terms" Synonyms \| Synonyms for Contrary: adverse \| antonymous \| different \| disobedient \| obstinate \| opposite \| perverse \| reverse \| unfavorable \| unfavourable \| wayward Related Terms \| Find terms related to Contrary: abjuratory \| abnegative \| adversary \| adversative \| adverse \| adversive \| alien \| antagonistic \| anti \| antipathetic \| antipodal \| antipode \| antipodean \| antipodes \| antipole \| antithesis \| antithetic \| antithetical \| antonym \| antonymous \| argumentative \| assorted \| at cross-purposes \| at loggerheads \| at odds \| at opposite extremes \| at variance \| at war \| awkward \| back to back \| bad \| balancing \| balky \| bulky \| cantankerous \| choking \| clashing \| clumsy \| compensating \| competitive \| con \| conflicting \| confounding \| confronting \| confutative \| confuting \| constrictive \| contra \| contradicting \| contradictory \| contradistinct \| contrapositive \| contrarily \| contrarious \| contrariwise \| contrasted \| contrasting \| contrawise \| contumacious \| converse \| conversely \| counter \| counteractive \| counterbalance \| counterbalancing \| countercheck \| counterpoint \| counterpoise \| counterpoised \| counterpole \| counterproductive \| counterterm \| countervailing \| cranky \| cross \| cross-grained \| crosswise \| cumbersome \| dead against \| denying \| departing \| detrimental \| deviant \| deviating \| deviative \| different \| differentiated \| differing \| difficult \| disaccordant \| disaffirming \| disagreeable \| disagreeing \| disallowing \| disavowing \| disclaiming \| discordant \| discrepant \| discrete \| discriminated \| disharmonious \| disjoined \| disowning \| disparate \| disproportionate \| dissentient \| dissenting \| dissident \| dissimilar \| dissonant \| distinct \| distinguished \| divergent \| diverging \| divers \| diverse \| diversified \| enemy \| eyeball to eyeball \| face to face \| foil \| foul \| fractious \| froward \| grating \| hard \| harmful \| headstrong \| heterogeneous \| hindering \| hindersome \| hostile \| hulking \| hulky \| immiscible \| impractical \| in disagreement \| in opposition \| in opposition to \| in the way \| inaccordant \| inauspicious \| incompatible \| incongruous \| inconsistent \| inconsonant \| inconvenient \| inharmonious \| inhibiting \| inhibitive \| inimical \| inopportune \| insubordinate \| interrupting \| interruptive \| intractable \| inverse \| irascible \| irreconcilable \| jangling \| jarring \| just opposite \| many \| miserable \| motley \| multifarious \| negative \| negatory \| nonconformable \| nonconforming \| nonconformist \| noncooperative \| nonobservant \| nose to nose \| not easy \| obstinate \| obstructing \| obstructive \| obstruent \| obverse \| occlusive \| offset \| opponent \| opposed \| opposing \| opposite \| opposite number \| oppositely \| oppositional \| oppositive \| oppugnant \| ornery \| out of accord \| out of whack \| overthwart \| perverse \| perversely \| polar \| poles apart \| poles asunder \| ponderous \| rebellious \| recalcitrant \| recanting \| recusant \| refractory \| refutative \| refutatory \| refuting \| renunciative \| renunciatory \| repressive \| repudiative \| repugnant \| restive \| restrictive \| reverse \| revocative \| revocatory \| rigorous \| rival \| self-willed \| separate \| separated \| setoff \| several \| sinister \| squared off \| stifling \| strangling \| stressful \| stubborn \| stuffy \| sulky \| sullen \| suppressive \| the contrary \| the other side \| troublesome \| troublous \| trying \| unaccommodating \| unadaptable \| unadjustable \| uncompliant \| unconformable \| unconforming \| uncongenial \| uncooperative \| unequal \| unfavorable \| unfortunate \| unfriendly \| unhandy \| unharmonious \| unlike \| unlucky \| unmanageable \| unpropitious \| unruly \| unsubmissive \| untoward \| unwieldy \| variant \| varied \| variegated \| various \| varying \| vice versa \| vis-a-vis \| wayward \| widely apart \| worlds apart \| wretched \| wrongheaded See Also \| logical relation \| oppositeness \| opposition Contrary In Webster's Dictionary \Con"trary\ (? or ?; 48), a. [OE. contrarie, contraire, F. contraire, fr. L. contrarius, fr. contra. See {Contra-}.] 1. Opposite; in an opposite direction; in opposition; adverse; as, contrary winds. And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me. --Lev. xxvi. 21. We have lost our labor; they are gone a contrary way. --Shak. 2. Opposed; contradictory; repugnant; inconsistent. Fame, if not double-faced, is double mouthed, And with contrary blast proclaims most deeds. --Milton. The doctrine of the earth's motion appeared to be contrary to the sacred Scripture. --Whewell. 3. Given to opposition; perverse; forward; wayward; as, a contrary disposition; a contrary child. 4. (Logic) Affirming the opposite; so opposed as to destroy each other; as, contrary propositions. {Contrary motion} (Mus.), the progression of parts in opposite directions, one ascending, the other descending. Syn: Adverse; repugnant; hostile; inimical; discordant; inconsistent. \Con"trary\, n.; pl. {Contraries}. 1. A thing that is of contrary or opposite qualities. No contraries hold more antipathy Than I and such a knave. --Shak. 2. An opponent; an enemy. [Obs.] --Chaucer. 3. the opposite; a proposition, fact, or condition incompatible with another; as, slender proofs which rather show the contrary. See {Converse}, n., 1. --Locke. 4. (Logic) See {Contraries}. {On the contrary}, in opposition; on the other hand. --Swift. {To the contrary}, to an opposite purpose or intent; on the other side. ``They did it, not for want of instruction to the contrary.'' --Bp. Stillingfleet.

Contrary Definition And Meaning

What's The Definition Of Contrary?

[n] two propositions are contraries if both cannot be true but both can be false
[n] exact opposition; "public opinion to the contrary he is not guilty"
[n] a relation of direct opposition; "we thought Sue was older than Bill but just the reverse was true"
[adj] in an opposing direction; "adverse currents"; "a contrary wind"
[adj] resistant to guidance or discipline; "Mary Mary quite contrary"; "an obstinate child with a violent temper"; "a perverse mood"; "wayward behavior"
[adj] very opposed in nature or character or purpose; "acts contrary to our code of ethics"; "the facts point to a contrary conclusion"
[adj] of words so related that both cannot be true but both may be false; "`hot' and `cold' are contrary terms"

See Also | logical relation | oppositeness | opposition

Contrary In Webster's Dictionary

\Con"tra*ry\ (? or ?; 48), a. [OE. contrarie,
contraire, F. contraire, fr. L. contrarius, fr. contra. See
{Contra-}.]
1. Opposite; in an opposite direction; in opposition;
   adverse; as, contrary winds.

         And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not
         hearken unto me.                      --Lev. xxvi.
                                               21.

         We have lost our labor; they are gone a contrary
         way.                                  --Shak.

2. Opposed; contradictory; repugnant; inconsistent.

         Fame, if not double-faced, is double mouthed, And
         with contrary blast proclaims most deeds. --Milton.

         The doctrine of the earth's motion appeared to be
         contrary to the sacred Scripture.     --Whewell.

3. Given to opposition; perverse; forward; wayward; as, a
   contrary disposition; a contrary child.

4. (Logic) Affirming the opposite; so opposed as to destroy
   each other; as, contrary propositions.

{Contrary motion} (Mus.), the progression of parts in
   opposite directions, one ascending, the other descending.

Syn: Adverse; repugnant; hostile; inimical; discordant;
     inconsistent.


\Con"tra*ry\, n.; pl. {Contraries}.
1. A thing that is of contrary or opposite qualities.

         No contraries hold more antipathy Than I and such a
         knave.                                --Shak.

2. An opponent; an enemy. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

3. the opposite; a proposition, fact, or condition
   incompatible with another; as, slender proofs which rather
   show the contrary. See {Converse}, n., 1. --Locke.

4. (Logic) See {Contraries}.

{On the contrary}, in opposition; on the other hand. --Swift.

{To the contrary}, to an opposite purpose or intent; on the
   other side. ``They did it, not for want of instruction to
   the contrary.'' --Bp. Stillingfleet.

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