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# contrary

«contrary» in Mova's school dictionary: **opposite or very different: «contrary opinions»** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 4 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

adjective (contrary); noun (the contrary); also «on the contrary»

### meaning for a pupil

1) Contrary means opposite or very different: «contrary opinions». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/contrary/#m1)

2) «On the contrary» is used to say the opposite is true: «Bored? On the contrary, I loved it». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/contrary/#m2)

3) (said «con-TRAIR-ee») A contrary person deliberately does the opposite of what others want. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/contrary/#m3)

4) «Contrary to» means against or different from: «contrary to the rules». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/contrary/#m4)

### sense in the lessons

In arguments, debates and stories «on the contrary» marks disagreement. «Contrary to popular belief» introduces a fact that busts a myth in science. In nursery rhymes «Mary, Mary, quite contrary» describes a stubborn girl. Phrases: on the contrary, contrary to, to the contrary, evidence to the contrary.

### examples

- Contrary to popular belief, bats are not blind. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/contrary/#x1)
- «Are you tired?» «On the contrary, I'm full of energy.» [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/contrary/#x2)
- Running in the corridor is contrary to the rules. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/contrary/#x3)
- Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow? [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/contrary/#x4)
- Unless I hear to the contrary, we'll meet at three. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/contrary/#x5)
- The two sisters had contrary views. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/contrary/#x6)
- "What are you doing, you contrary thief?" said the master. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/contrary/#x7)

### note

Usually stressed «CON-tra-ry»; in the sense «stubborn» often «con-TRAIR-ee». «On the contrary» answers a statement by saying the opposite; it does not mean «on the other hand».

### In the corpora

- [And if in spite of these things ye will not be corrected unto Me, but will walk contrary unto Me;](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/LEV.811/)
- [then will I also walk contrary unto you; and I will smite you, even I, seven times for your sins.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/LEV.812/)
- [And if ye will not for all this hearken unto Me, but walk contrary unto Me;](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/LEV.815/)
- [then I will walk contrary unto you in fury; and I also will chastise you seven times for your sins.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/LEV.816/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «contrary» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/contrary/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.