All 50 Uses of
contrary
in
Anna Karenina
- …which it was maintained that it was quite senseless in our day to raise an outcry that radicalism was threatening to swallow up all conservative elements, and that the government ought to take measures to crush the revolutionary hydra; that, on the contrary, "in our opinion the danger lies not in that fantastic revolutionary hydra, but in the obstinacy of traditionalism clogging progress," etc., etc. He read another article, too, a financial one, which alluded to Bentham and Mill, and…†
Part 1 (definition 1)
- "I maintain the contrary," began Sergey Ivanovitch.†
Part 1
- "On the contrary, I think it's the easiest—instantaneous," observed another.†
Part 1 (definition 1) *
- He knew that this was stupid, he knew that it was positively not right, and contrary to his present new plans, but this house was a whole world to Levin.†
Part 1 (definition 2) *
- But in that nervous tension, and in the visions that filled her imagination, there was nothing disagreeable or gloomy: on the contrary there was something blissful, glowing, and exhilarating.†
Part 1 (definition 1)
- Undressing, she went into the bedroom; but her face had none of the eagerness which, during her stay in Moscow, had fairly flashed from her eyes and her smile; on the contrary, now the fire seemed quenched in her, hidden somewhere far away.†
Part 1 (definition 1)
- But I…. quite the contrary….†
Part 2 *
- But since her visit to Moscow she had done quite the contrary.†
Part 2
- On the contrary, it does, very much.†
Part 2 (definition 1)
- Contrary to his usual habit, he did not get into bed, but fell to walking up and down the rooms with his hands clasped behind his back.†
Part 2 (definition 2)
- On the contrary, he needed occupation and distraction quite apart from his love, so as to recruit and rest himself from the violent emotions that agitated him.†
Part 2 (definition 1)
- "Oh, no, he's a very good man, and I'm not unhappy; quite the contrary, I'm very happy.†
Part 2
- The prince, on the contrary, thought everything foreign detestable, got sick of European life, kept to his Russian habits, and purposely tried to show himself abroad less European than he was in reality.†
Part 2 (definition 1)
- With Sergey Ivanovitch it was quite the contrary.†
Part 3
- In the contrary event, you can conjecture what awaits you and your son.†
Part 3
- "Well, I on the contrary expected less—I'll own frankly.†
Part 3 (definition 1)
- The horses were allowed to stray into the wheat because not a single laborer would consent to be night-watchman, and in spite of orders to the contrary, the laborers insisted on taking turns for night duty, and Ivan, after working all day long, fell asleep, and was very penitent for his fault, saying, "Do what you will to me, your honor."†
Part 3 (definition 3) *
- All this happened, not because anyone felt ill-will to Levin or his farm; on the contrary, he knew that they liked him, thought him a simple gentleman (their highest praise); but it happened simply because all they wanted was to work merrily and carelessly, and his interests were not only remote and incomprehensible to them, but fatally opposed to their most just claims.†
Part 3 (definition 1)
- It's quite the contrary; he is always in cheerful spirits abroad, but not as he is here.†
Part 3
- "Well, then, I'm very glad—or the contrary, very sorry, that I'm in agreement with Spencer; only I've known it a long while.†
Part 3
- But, contrary to his usual habit, he did not go to bed, he walked up and down his study till three o'clock in the morning.†
Part 4 (definition 2)
- He felt so mirthful that, contrary to his rules, he made a reduction in his terms to the haggling lady, and gave up catching moths, finally deciding that next winter he must have the furniture covered with velvet, like Sigonin's.†
Part 4 (definition 2)
- On the contrary, the finish is always the best.†
Part 4 (definition 1)
- Quite the contrary; a child can kill a bear," he said, with a slight bow moving aside for the ladies, who were approaching the table.†
Part 4
- "I consider, on the contrary, that the two questions are inseparably connected together," said Pestsov; "it is a vicious circle.†
Part 4 (definition 1)
- On the contrary, he felt that Sviazhsky was right, that the whole business was of little value, and he saw the wonderful softness and consideration with which Sviazhsky avoided fully expressing his correct view.†
Part 4 (definition 1)
- He suddenly felt that what he had regarded as nervous agitation was on the contrary a blissful spiritual condition that gave him all at once a new happiness he had never known.†
Part 4 (definition 1)
- I can't say yet that all is over; on the contrary, I feel that it's not over.†
Part 4 (definition 1)
- On the contrary, I am glad at the very loss of my freedom.†
Part 5 (definition 1)
- There was an interval of hesitation, whispering, and smiles; but the expression of solemn emotion on the faces of the betrothed pair did not change: on the contrary, in their perplexity over their hands they looked more grave and deeply moved than before, and the smile with which Stepan Arkadyevitch whispered to them that now they would each put on their own ring died away on his lips.†
Part 5 (definition 1)
- And all of a sudden, instead of his life with his wife being made on an individual pattern, it was, on the contrary, entirely made up of the pettiest details, which he had so despised before, but which now, by no will of his own, had gained an extraordinary importance that it was useless to contend against.†
Part 5 (definition 1)
- He had said he would fetch his wife, but now, taking stock of the emotion he was feeling, he decided that he would try on the contrary to persuade her not to go in to the sick man.†
Part 5 (definition 1)
- Kitty, on the contrary, was more active than usual.†
Part 5 (definition 1)
- In spite of his assertion to the contrary, she was firmly persuaded that he was as much a Christian as she, and indeed a far better one; and all that he said about it was simply one of his absurd masculine freaks, just as he would say about her broderie anglaise that good people patch holes, but that she cut them on purpose, and so on.†
Part 5 (definition 3)
- The sick man alone did not express this feeling, but on the contrary was furious at their not getting him doctors, and went on taking medicine and talking of life.†
Part 5 (definition 1)
- But Alexey Alexandrovitch was not aware of this, and, on the contrary, being cut off from direct participation in governmental activity, he saw more clearly than ever the errors and defects in the action of others, and thought it his duty to point out means for their correction.†
Part 5 (definition 1)
- Now, on the contrary, she was perforce decked out in a way so inconsistent with her age and her figure, that her one anxiety was to contrive that the contrast between these adornments and her own exterior should not be too appalling.†
Part 5 (definition 1)
- On the contrary, I see that all is evil.†
Part 5 (definition 1)
- On the contrary, he was far cleverer than the boys his teacher held up as examples to Seryozha.†
Part 5 (definition 1)
- No, quite the contrary; I see that society takes up a sort of antagonistic attitude to these people, which is utterly baseless, and I fancy there's envy at the bottom of it…."†
Part 6
- On the contrary, I feel I have no right to give it up, that I have duties both to the land and to my family.†
Part 6 (definition 1)
- Ce n'est pas un pis-aller, on the contrary…."†
Part 6 (definition 1)
- He obviously attached no significance to Veslovsky's chattering; on the contrary, he encouraged his jests.†
Part 6 (definition 1)
- "For my part," pursued Vronsky, who was evidently for some reason or other keenly affected by this conversation, "such as I am, I am, on the contrary, extremely grateful for the honor they have done me, thanks to Nikolay Ivanitch" (he indicated Sviazhsky), "in electing me a justice of the peace.†
Part 6 (definition 1)
- Some of the young men, as Levin observed, belonged to the old party; and some of the very oldest noblemen, on the contrary, were whispering with Sviazhsky, and were evidently ardent partisans of the new party.†
Part 6 (definition 1)
- "I don't think so, quite the contrary," Vronsky said, with quiet surprise.†
Part 6
- On the contrary, when Kitty looked at him in society, as one sometimes looks at those one loves, trying to see him as if he were a stranger, so as to catch the impression he must make on others, she saw with a panic even of jealous fear that he was far indeed from being a pitiable figure, that he was very attractive with his fine breeding, his rather old-fashioned, reserved courtesy with women, his powerful figure, and striking, as she thought, and expressive face.†
Part 7 (definition 1)
- "Yes, here he's written almost a book on the natural conditions of the laborer in relation to the land," said Katavasov; "I'm not a specialist, but I, as a natural science man, was pleased at his not taking mankind as something outside biological laws; but, on the contrary, seeing his dependence on his surroundings, and in that dependence seeking the laws of his development."†
Part 7 (definition 1)
- "On the contrary, you can't imagine how, when I look at you, I'm always learning the task that lies before me, that is the education of one's children."†
Part 7 (definition 1)
- There was not a single instant when a subject for conversation was to seek; on the contrary, it was felt that one had hardly time to say what one had to say, and eagerly held back to hear what the others were saying.†
Part 7 (definition 1)
Definitions:
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(1) (on the contrary as in: on the contrary) an expression used to intensify denial of an ideaeditor's notes: More rarely, on the contrary is used to oppose an idea contained in what was just said rather than to oppose what was literally said. Here is an example: "I will not pay you for the work. On the contrary, I may sue you for damages." Suing for damages does not oppose not paying, but it does oppose the idea of paying.
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(2) (contrary to as in: contrary to) in opposition toeditor's notes: You could also think of this as meaning, despite, or in spite of, or in conflict with; but since a common meaning of contrary is opposite, you many find it easiest to think of contrary to as in opposition to.
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(3) (to the contrary as in: to the contrary) with an opposite or different effect; or something with an opposite or different effect
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(contrary as in: a contrary idea) different (perhaps opposite or mutually exclusive)editor's notes: In formal logic, contrary propositions or contrary arguments describe two things that cannot both be true. They might be described as mutually exclusive. For example, a pet cannot be both a cat and a dog. It doesn't need to be either, but if it is one, it cannot be the other. So the statement that a pet is a cat and the statement that the same pet is a dog, are contrary statements.