contrary

(kŏnˈtrĕrˌē)

1. Opposed, as in character or purpose: contrary opinions; acts that are contrary to our code of ethics.
2. Opposite in direction or position: Our boat took a course contrary to theirs. See Synonyms at opposite.
3. Music Moving in the opposite direction at a fixed interval: playing scales in contrary motion.
4. Adverse; unfavorable: a contrary wind.
5. also (kən-trârˈē) Given to recalcitrant behavior; willful or perverse.

1. Something that is opposite or contrary.
2. Either of two opposing or contrary things: “Truth is perhaps . . . a dynamic compound of opposites, savage contraries for a moment conjoined” (A. Bartlett Giamatti).
3. Logic A proposition related to another in such a way that if the latter is true, the former must be false, but if the latter is false, the former is not necessarily true.

Related Forms:

• conˈtrarˌi·ly (kŏnˈtrĕr-ə-lē, kŏn-trârˈ-) adverb

• conˈtrarˌi·ness noun