• (British) IPA: /ˈkɒntɹəɹi/
• (America) IPA: /ˈkɑntɹɛɹi/

contrary

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

   contrary winds

   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), imprinted at London: By Robert Barker, […], OCLC 964384981 ↗, Leviticus 26:21 ↗:

     And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me{{...}

   • c. 1604–1605, William Shakespeare, “All’s VVell, that Ends VVell”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act III, scene v]:

     We have lost our labour; they are gone a contrary way.

2. Opposed; contradictory; inconsistent.

   What may be "politically correct" could be contrary to the teachings of Jesus.

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

3. Given to opposition; perverse; wayward.

   a contrary disposition; a contrary child

• Italian: contrario, opposto
• Spanish: contrario

contrary

1. Contrarily

contrary (plural contraries)

1. The opposite.
   • c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act II, scene ii]:

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

2. (logic) 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.

• witherward

• (logic) subcontrary
• contrarian

• French: contraire, contrepied

contrary

1. (obsolete) To oppose; to frustrate.

   • I was advised not to contrary the king.

   • 1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 47, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes, […], book I, printed at London: By Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], OCLC 946730821 ↗:

     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. (obsolete) To impugn.
3. (obsolete) To contradict (someone or something).
   • 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, [http://quod.lib.umich.edu/c/cme/MaloryWks2/1:12.77?rgn=div2;view=fulltext chapter lxxvij], in Le Morte Darthur, book X:

     thus wilfully sir Palomydes dyd bataille with yow / & as for hym sir I was not gretely aferd but I dred fore laūcelot that knew yow not / Madame said Palomydes ye maye saye what so ye wyll / I maye not contrary yow but by my knyghthode I knewe not sir Tristram

   • 1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 12, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes, […], book II, printed at London: By Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], OCLC 946730821 ↗:

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

4. (obsolete) To do the opposite of (someone or something).
5. (obsolete) To act inconsistently or perversely; to act in opposition to.
6. (obsolete) To argue; to debate; to uphold an opposite opinion.
7. (obsolete) To be self-contradictory; to become reversed.

• contra
• counter