“contrary” in Latin

contrarius: adversus (PROP., opposed to to one who is looking at it; then IMPROP., in rhetoric, of notions opposed to each other in the same species; as, sapientia and stultitia, Cic., Top., 11, 47; but also for contrarius, generally; Vid: Cic., Or., 19, 56 [compared with 39, 135], and Gell., 16, 8): oppositus (placed opposite; opposed to; of the action; but not in the sense of “contrary,” “the opposite.” ☞ contraria cum Cicerone appello, quae barbari opposita, Muretus. On the meaning of oppositum and antithesis, Vid. OPPOSITE, s.): diversus (the diversa will have nothing in common, and go different or even opposite ways from each other; whereas the contraria confront and stand directly opposite to each other; hence diversa aut etiam contraria, Döderlein’s Synonyms): Sometimes alienus (ab) aliqua, re (inconsistent with): disparatus (contradictory; Vid: Cic., Invent., 1, 28, 42). Contrary to each other, contrarii inter se. To be of a contrary opinion, dissentire, dissidere a aliquo or inter se: even here some are of a contrary opinion, id ipsum nonnullis secus videtur. On this subject, authors are of contrary opinions, discrepat inter scriptores, or (if they are not merely writers, but the great supporters of an opinion) inter auctores. OBS. “To be contrary to anything,” is mostly contra aliquid esse (e.g., contra naturam, contra officium esse, to be contrary to nature, to duty). A contrary wind, ventus adversus: to have the wind contrary, vento adverso navigare; ventus (naviganti) alicui adversum tenet: to have contrary winds, ventis adversis uti. Every virtue has its contrary vice, omni virtuti vitium contrario nomine opponitur (Cic.). In a contrary direction, in contrarias partes (e.g., fluere, to flow back, of streams, Cic., Div., 1, 35); contrarie (e.g., procedere, of the stars, Cic.). ☞ Contrarius is often followed by ac [Pr., Introd. ii., 183, 206]: to move in a contrary direction to that of the heavens, versari contrario motu atque caelum.

Used as virtually an adverb [from being referred to the subject, or to the whole affirmation]. Mostly by praeter. Contrary to the laws of God and man, praeter jus fasque: contrary to anybody’s wish, praeter alicujus voluntatem: contrary to expectation, praeter opinionem: contrary to one’s hopes, praeter spem: secus ac speraveram [on contra, Vid: next Obs.] : contrary to my wishes, praeter optatum meum (e.g., accidit aliquid): [ ☞ contra with spem, exspectationem, consuetudinem is rare, for praeter (Krebs); it is, however, quite classical: contra opinionem, Caes., Sall.; exspectationem, Hirtius; spem, Sall. Liv..] To act contrary to, negligere aliquid (e.g., legem, consuetudinem); migrare aliquid (e.g., jus civile) to a precept, directions, etc., extra praescriptum egredi: to one’s promise, fidem non servare: ridem frangere. Contra is often used with atque or quam and a verb: contrary to his expectations, contra atque ratus erat: contrary to the opinion he had himself delivered, contra quam ipse censuerat [Hand rejects Herzog’s distinction, that contra ac compares, contra quam heightens and excludes]: contrary to what is the custom with us, contra atque apud nos.

used as substantive: contrarium: pars contraria. contraria, plur., [☞ diversum, in this sense, belongs to the age of Tac. On oppositum and antithesis, Vid: “The OPPOSITE”]: my views are the very contrary of these, mini contra videtur (Sall., Jug., 85, 1; but Kritz has contra ea). ☞ (1) “The contrary” is mostly translated by the adjective contrarius, in concord; sometimes in the neuter; e.g., hujus virtutis contraria est vitiositas; fidentiae contrarium est diffidentia: both Cic. (2) “The contrary to what,” etc. is contrarium ac or atque: e.g., to decree the very contrary of what he had decreed a little before, contrarium decernere, atque paullo ante decreverat, Cic. To do the very contrary of what, etc., contra facere ac (atque) (166) or quam. ☞ As opposed to an adjective, it must be translated by contra: whether he is happy, or the contrary, utrum felix sit, an contra: somethings seem probable, others the contrary, aliae res probabiles videntur, aliae contra.

On the contrary, ex contrario: e contrario [☞ Görenz and Bremi say, that contrario has no authority; that ex contrario is used by Cic.; e contrario by Nep. and Quint., ; but e contrario is found Cic., De Fin., 2, 12, 36; ad Herenn. 1, 10, 17; 2, 11, 16. Hand thinks that ex contrario = ex altera parte contraria; e contrario = contra, vol. ii. 631]: contra (on the other hand; on the contrary): contra ea (Caes., Liv., and especially Nep. who very seldom uses contra alone: Freund.) ☞ In many cases, where the antithesis need not be so strongly marked, it is enough to use at, attamen, autem. Far from - on the contrary, tantum abest, ut - ut, or (Liv.) ut contra: whereas on the contrary, quod contra; as - so on the contrary, ut - sic contra: ut - sic ex contrario (Caes., B.G., 7, 30): for on the contrary, nam contra: but on the contrary, atqui contra; sed contra; at contra; or contraque after a negative (e.g., non enim tua ulla culpa - contraque summa laus, quod, etc., Cic.): not only not - but on the contrary, non modo non - sed contra: not that - but on the contrary, non quo - sed contra (e.g., non quo acui - ingenia adolescentium nollem, sed contra ingenia obtundi nolui, Cic.): and on the contrary, et contra, contraque, or on the contrary, vel contra: if on the contrary, si ex contrario (Cic.). |On the contrary (in answers of dissent), immo: immo vero, immo enim vero: immo potius.