Middle English Dictionary Entry
contrārie adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | contrārie adj. Also contrare. |
| Etymology | L contrārius; the var. contrare of Cleanness (see 2a) may be the AF ppl. corresponding to CF contrarié. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. contrarious, contraire.
1.
Of paired entities: opposing, opposed, opposite, contrasting, contrastive; ben ~ to, to be opposed to or contrast with (sth.); al ~, even ~, exactly opposite, reversed; ~ parti, opposite half or side; ~ manner, wise, opposite manner; etc.
Associated quotations
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)123/4 : Þe holy gost..bestrepþ þe zeue zennes uram þe herte and plonteþ and norisseþ zeue uirtues con[t]raries.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)41b/a : It tokeneþ þe contrary disposicioun.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)41b/b : A ȝelewhe yȝe haþ contrarye doynge & is febil of siȝt be day & strong be nyȝte.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)124a/a : Wintir is al contrarie to somer.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)31/18 : A wounde compound is clepid contrarie to him þat is symple.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)257/3 : Summen han now newe rulis: þat wiþ contrarijs contrarie þingis schulen be curid.
- 1386-1398(a1349) Rolle Com.LG (Rwl A.389)62 : Luf..is þe perfeccion of þis lif, To þe whiche al dedly synne is contrary & enemy.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)1105 : Na man may serve rightly Twa lordes to-gedir, þat er contrary.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.pr.3.67 : Good and yvel..ben contrarie.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.pr.3.86 : Loke on schrewes, that ben the contrarie partie of gode men.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.pr.3.42 : This necessite slideth ayein into the contrarie partie.
- (1434) Misyn ML (Corp-O 236)108/20 : Couetys of the warld & godis lufe truly ar contrary.
- c1440(a1349) Rolle Desire & D.(Thrn)58/15 : The delyte..es pure when it es noghte blendid with na thynge þat es contrayrie thareto.
- c1450 Scrope Othea (Lngl 253)61 : Thei be ii contrary thynges þat distroyith iche of them othir, for compunccion is modir of terres and delites engenderyth laughynges.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)15 : Þe punyschingis of peynes schule be þe bettir tretid and knowun, if þe tretyng of her contrarie welþis and joies go bifore.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)380 : In þilk contrarie wise þe seid deede were no vertu but vice.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)347/17 : Alexander yisterday made tresur of golde and now it is evyn contrarie, for golde makis tresur of hym.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)3/9 : Y wol make write the manere contrarie of goodnesse, the whiche is called the boke of hurtinge of euell women.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)79/15 : Þat þe seid meke werkis be not lettid..and þat þe contrari werkis to hem be not doon.
- c1455 Spec.Miser.(Tak 32)499 : They..deden penavnce fore here trespas..But I am in thee contrarie Caas.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)1.775 : Wronge is not [to] wronge contrarie in no wyse..Al be they of oo nature.
- a1500(?c1378) Wycl.OPastor.(Ryl Eng 86)444 : He þat wolde treuly preche þe word of þe gospel..shal be put a-bac, and contrarie prechour shal be takun.
- a1550 *Norton OAlch.(BodeMus 63)1532 : Whit and blacke..be colours contrarye in moste extremite.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)75/46 : Drye and wete ben contrarie and mowen not acorde.
2a.
(a) Differing, inconsistent, discordant; ~ opinion, conflicting opinion; ~ speche, inappropriate or contradictory expression; ~ werkes, unnatural (hence, immoral) behavior; (b) ~ to, contrary to (doctrine, truth, reason, love, nature, etc.), at variance with, conflicting with; (c) ~ to, adverse or resistant to (sth.); (d) ~ to, repugnant or distasteful to (sb.).
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.342 : The spirit..the flessh, they ben so contrarie and so stryuen that a man may nat alwey doon as he wolde.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)266 : Þenne founden þay fylþe in fleschlych dedez & controeved, agayn kynde, contrare werkez, & used hem unþryftyly uch on on oþer.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.186 : To his herte his tonge was contrarie.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)43/24 : When þe abbas and þe prioresse er of contrary opynion, both thayre awne saules bus nedly be in perel in þat dissensione.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)29a/a : It is cleped..bona buba i. a good byle, by contrarie speche, for it [is] werste and most perilouse.
- a1475(1450) Scrope DSP (Bod 943)106/33 : Wyne and wisdome may not be to-gader, for in some wise thei be contrarie.
b
- c1400 Wycl.Dominion (Dub 244)290 : Falce wytnesse..maken þe iuge erre and pupplische a sentence contrarie to trewþe.
- a1425(?c1384) Wycl.Church (Bod 788)362 : Þe fendis bidding, þat is contrarie to love of Crist.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.FCLife (Corp-C 296)189 : Oþere lawes of þe peple ben contrarie to holy writt & reson & charite.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)6 : Whanne euer eny clerk affermeth to hem eny gouernaunce being contrarie to her witt or plesaunce.
- (a1467) Proc.Chanc.in Cal.PCEliz.1.p.lxxxi : Contrary to the substaunce and the effect of dyvers of the other answers.
c
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)99b/a : Melancolye is coolde & drye and so contrarye to rotinge.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)267b/b : Þis beste is contrarie to brennynge..and lyueþ in brennynge fuyre wiþoute consumpcioun.
d
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4794 : From youre scole so devyaunt I am..To me so contrarie..Is every thing that ye me ler [etc.].
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)5306 : This love..Is nothing contrarie to me.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)11/8 : Suche þinges as we loue or desire, or suche þinges as are contrary to us.
2b.
(a) Diverse, various; varying, changeable; (b) on, in ~ wise, on the other hand.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)133b/a : Of vapoures þat ben I drawe fro þe erþe in to þe innere partyes of þe eyr, dyuers and contrarie þinges beþ I gendrid in þe eyr.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)2303 : The lyf of love is full contrarie, Which stoundemele can ofte varie.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)176b/a : Whi o medicyne may haue contrarie operacionz And o plante diuers parties.
b
- c1390 Hilton ML (Vrn)269 : On þe contrarie wyse, who so haþ so gret reward to werkes of actyf lyf..he fulfilleþ not fulli charite.
- (a1475) Fortescue Dial.UF (Vit E.10)487 : But O alas, yn contrary wise, who that can ymagen [etc.].
3.
(a) Adverse, unfavorable, harmful; ~ fortune; ~ planete; ~ land, inclement country; etc.; (b) of wind: unfavorable, i.e. adverse or too strong; of the sea: unfavorable for sailing, stormy.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)116a/a : Wiþ contrarye planetis falliþ þe contrarye þat is to euel ende.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)181b/a : In Irlond is no serpent..alle þe londe is so contrarie to venemous beestes.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.840 : An hundrid sythe..þei varie, Now blaundisschyng & now þei be contrarie.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)Col.2.14 : Þe lawe þat was contrarye to vs and ageynus vs.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)2246 : For pride is founde in every part Contrarie unto loves art.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.pr.8.21 : The amyable Fortune desceyveth folk, the contrarie Fortune techeth.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.5010 : O ye Parchas..Which..off childre at ther natyuyte Waite his sentence..Wherso it be welful or contrarie.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)3607 : In sorow may be sene who is sad wise..When hym comys by course contrary thinges.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)163/40 : Fro þis world I wolde be ffayn, It is contrary to my levynge.
- c1475 St.Anne(2) (Trin-C R.3.21)26 : Nothyng acordyng vnto my plesure, But euyn clene contrary to my desyre.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)69/4 : Euyles þat er contrarye to hele of man.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)86/8 : Loke also þat þe planet Mercurius be noght in constellacioun vpstyand, or to him contrary.
b
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.14.24 : The boot..was throwen with wawis..the wynd was contrarie.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)B.4259 : Two men that wolde han passed ouer see..If that the wynd ne hadde ben contrarie.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)235b/a : Þey..be war of contrary wynde while þey diggeþ.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.6643 : Þe water salt..and also Eolus, Was vn-to hem in euery þing contrarie..Þe se was ay so fel and boilynge.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)114b : Wiþ a ful blowynge wynde þe flete..cometh in-to hauene..þere as wiþ a contrarie wynde he is dryue to stonde and ryde stille.
- a1475(1450) Scrope DSP (Bod 943)74/20 : The ship..had abiden lenger..bicause of contrarie wyndis.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)250/18 : There rose vp a contrarie wynde and so grete a storme [etc.].
4.
Of persons: (a) antagonistic, hostile; cross; ~ peple, foes, the enemy; ~ to (sb.); ~ parti, opposing party; (b) recalcitrant, disobedient; (c) reluctant.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)71b/a : An yuel wif..drunkelew & vnstedefast & contrarye to hym.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)146a/b : [The crow] is besy and gredy & contrarye to þe Egle & oþir briddes of pray.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)14461 : Þei were ful of enuye, To god & mon myche contrarye [Frf: contrarius].
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Lev.26.28 : If..ȝe..goon aȝens me, and I shal go aȝens ȝow in contrarye woodnes.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1360 : The goddes been contraire to me.
- c1450(?c1400) Wycl.Elucid.(StJ-C G.25)7 : Þe firste aungel of casuel hiȝte satan, þat is to seie, contrarie to god.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)141.99 (v.2:p.397) : The contrarye peple was also restorid ageyn to seyth.
- (1461) Paston (Gairdner)3.288 : He standyth daly in gret fere for the false contrary party ageyns hym.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)136/23 : Þe contrari parte seide ageine þat þei were wrongefulli vexid.
- a1500(?c1440) Lydg.HGS (Lnsd 699)460 : Pride causith..Werre between rewmys..Hertis contrarye in pees can nat a-bide.
b
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)482 : Wherto..artow so proude of port, Contrarie also euer in oure disport, Froward and felle?
- (a1450) Mem.Bk.York in Sur.Soc.12066 : What servand so ever he be that..be contrary to any of the poyntes a bouen wrytten, he sall pay xl d.
c
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.4201 : How Troilus was contrarie To assendyn vp on Lovis steire.
5.
(a) Opposite (as to location or direction); (b) ~ windes, winds from opposite directions; (c) in ~ wise, reversely.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Mac.4.12 : Aliens..sawen hem cummynge of the contrarie part, or euen aȝein.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)121a/a : Meovinge is passinge from on ende to anoþir contrarie ende.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)252a/b : And moeueþ toward contrary sides.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)329b/a : Oon lyne is y drawe from oon corner to þe contrary cornere.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Josh.8.5 : The tothir multitude..schulen come on the contrarie side aȝens the citee.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)53b/b : Þe þing infixed..is so mych profounded þat it comeþ to partie contrarie.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)28b/b : Wiþ blood laste ffirste in þe contrarie partie, þan..on þe same side.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)28a : Contrary: Contrarius loco..preposterus, transuersus.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)204b/a : Contrary wyndes..makeþ þe whirlewynde, as Beda seiþ.
c
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)299b/a : Boles of ynde been..cruell and þe here is y torned in contrarie wise.