contrary

Reading level: medium

Estimated CEFR level: A2 — Elementary

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a relation of direct opposition
  2. noun exact opposition
  3. noun a logical relation such that two propositions are contraries if both cannot be true but both can be false

Etymology

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

In classic literature

Synonyms

reverse, opposite

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