Main Entry: ¹con·trary

Pronunciation: \ˈkän-ˌtrer-ē, -ˌtre-rē\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural con·trar·ies

Etymology: Middle English contrarie, from Anglo-French contraire, contrairie, from Medieval Latin contrarius, from Latin, adjective, opposite, adverse, from contra opposite

Date: 13th century

1 : a fact or condition incompatible with another : opposite —usually used with the
2 : one of a pair of opposites
3 a : a proposition so related to another that though both may be false they cannot both be true — compare subcontrary b : either of two terms (as good and evil) that cannot both be affirmed of the same subject

— by contraries obsolete : in a manner opposite to what is logical or expected

— on the contrary : just the opposite

— to the contrary 1 : on the contrary
2 : notwithstanding