contrary

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   resistant to guidance or discipline

   Mary Mary quite contrary

2. 2
   adj

   very opposed in nature or character or purpose

   acts contrary to our code of ethics

3. 3
   adj

   of words or propositions so related that both cannot be true but both may be false

   `hot' and `cold' are contrary terms

4. 4
   noun

   exact opposition

   Public opinion to the contrary, the suspect was not guilty.

5. 5
   adj

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

   contrary winds

6. 6
   adj

   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 sacred scripture.

7. 7
   adj

   Given to opposition; perverse; wayward.

   a contrary disposition; a contrary child

8. 8
   adv

   Contrarily

   I never act contrary to my principles.

Etymology

From Middle English contrarie, compare French contraire, from Old French contraire, from Latin contrārius (“opposite, opposed, contrary”), from contrā (“against”).