Contrary

Contrary - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

CONTRARY, a. [L., against.]

1. Opposite; adverse; moving against or in an opposite direction; as contrary winds.

2. Opposite; contradictory; not merely different, but inconsistent or repugnant.

The flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary, the one to the other. Gal 5.

This adjective, in many phrases, is to be treated grammatically as an adverb, or as an adjective referring to a sentence or affirmation; as, this happened contrary to my expectations. The word here really belongs to the affirmation or fact declared, this happened; for contrary does not, like an adverb, express the manner of happening, but that the fact itself was contrary to my expectation. According, agreeable, pursuant, antecedent, prior, anterior, _c., are often used in the like manner.

CONTRARY, n.

1. A thing that is contrary or of opposite qualities.

No contraries hold more antipathy, than I and such a knave.

2. A proposition contrary to another, or a fact contrary to what is alledged; as, this is stated to be a fact, but I will endeavor to show the contrary.

On the contrary, in opposition; on the other side.

To the contrary, to an opposite purpose, or fact.

They did it, not for want of instruction to the contrary.

He said it was just, but I told him to the contrary.

CONTRARY, v.t. To contradict or oppose.

kon'-tra-ri (qeri; enantios): In the Old Testament it has the sense of antagonistic, as one person opposed or hostile to the other, especially in Le 26:21,23,14,27,28,40,41, where Yahweh declares His attitude toward the people in such phrases as: "If ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me; then I will walk contrary unto you in wrath."

In the New Testament it has a more varied significance and is applied to both material and human relations as simply opposite, set over against an object or thing. Used of the wind as in Mt 14:24; Mr 6:48; Ac 27:4, where it is spoken of as contrary. Refers also to conflicting doctrines, customs or beliefs, as 1Ti 1:10, "and if there be any other thing contrary to the sound doctrine." Several other Greek words are translated with almost an identical meaning. Occasionally a prefix gives a slightly different shade of meaning.

Walter G. Clippinger