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.
Con"tra*ry, v. t. [F.
contrarier. See Contrary, a.]
To contradict or oppose; to thwart. [Obs.]
I was advised not to contrary the king.
Bp. Latimer.
