contrary

1. 1

   Opposite; in an opposite direction; in opposition; adverse.

   • contrary winds
2. 2

   Opposed; contradictory; inconsistent.

   • Galileo [Galilei]'s zeal for his opinions soon led him again to bring the question under the notice of the Pope, and the result was a declaration of the Inquisition that the doctrine of the earth's motion appeared to be contrary to the sacr
3. 3

   Given to opposition; perverse; wayward.

   • a contrary disposition; a contrary child

syn. against the grain · at cross purposes · contradictory · contrariant · contrarious · contrary · counter · cross · disagreeable · opposed · opposing · refractory

ant. cooperative · synergistic · unopposed

1. 1

   Contrarily

   • I never act contrary to my principles.

1. 1

   The opposite.

   • No contraries hold more antipathy Than I and such a knave.
2. 2

   One of a pair of propositions that cannot both be simultaneously true, though they may both be false.

   • If two universals differ in quality, they are contraries; as, every vine is a tree; no vine is a tree. These can never be both true together; but they may be both false.
3. 3

   A type of loaded die.historical

syn. witherward

1. 1

   To oppose; to frustrate.obsolete

   • The Athenians having left the enemie in their owne land, for to pass into Sicilie, had very ill successe, and were much contraried by fortune[…].
2. 2

   To impugn.obsolete

3. 3

   To contradict (someone or something).obsolete

   • I finde them everie one in his turne to have reason, although they contrary one another.
4. 4

   To do the opposite of (someone or something).obsolete

5. 5

   To act inconsistently or perversely; to act in opposition to.obsolete

6. 6

   To argue; to debate; to uphold an opposite opinion.obsolete

7. 7

   To be self-contradictory; to become reversed.obsolete