All 26 Uses of
contrary
in
David Copperfield
- My mother, contrary to her usual habit, instead of coming to the elbow-chair by the fire, remained at the other end of the room, and sat singing to herself.†
Chpt 1-3 (definition 1) *
- 'I am a lone lorn creetur',' were Mrs. Gummidge's words, when that unpleasant occurrence took place, 'and everythink goes contrary with me.'†
Chpt 1-3
- At last she shed tears on that subject, and said again that she was 'a lone lorn creetur' and everythink went contrary with her'.†
Chpt 1-3
- I know that I am a lone lorn creetur', and not only that everythink goes contrary with me, but that I go contrary with everybody.†
Chpt 1-3
- I know that I am a lone lorn creetur', and not only that everythink goes contrary with me, but that I go contrary with everybody.†
Chpt 1-3
- My troubles has made me contrary.†
Chpt 1-3
- I feel my troubles, and they make me contrary.†
Chpt 1-3
- I am a lone lorn creetur', and had much better not make myself contrary here.†
Chpt 1-3
- If thinks must go contrary with me, and I must go contrary myself, let me go contrary in my parish.†
Chpt 1-3
- If thinks must go contrary with me, and I must go contrary myself, let me go contrary in my parish.†
Chpt 1-3
- If thinks must go contrary with me, and I must go contrary myself, let me go contrary in my parish.†
Chpt 1-3
- On the contrary, I seem to have walked along a path of flowers as far as the crocodile-book, and to have been cheered by the gentleness of my mother's voice and manner all the way.†
Chpt 4-6 (definition 2)
- On the contrary, I thought he seemed the fresher for it.†
Chpt 4-6 (definition 2) *
- On the contrary, a large majority of the boys (especially the smaller ones) were visited with similar instances of notice, as Mr. Creakle made the round of the schoolroom.†
Chpt 7-9 (definition 2)
- 'Contrary ways, please God!' cried Peggotty, with great animation.†
Chpt 10-12
- 'I feel it more than anybody else,' said Mrs. Gummidge; 'I'm a lone lorn creetur', and she used to be a'most the only thing that didn't go contrary with me.'†
Chpt 10-12
- 'I'm a lone lorn creetur' myself, and everythink that reminds me of creetur's that ain't lone and lorn, goes contrary with me.'†
Chpt 10-12
- You don't feel like me, Dan'l; thinks don't go contrary with you, nor you with them; you had better do it yourself.'†
Chpt 10-12
- Quite the contrary, my love.'†
Chpt 10-12 *
- On the contrary, Mr. Copperfield used — or I am much mistaken — to have a great admiration for her.'†
Chpt 22-24 (definition 2)
- Nothing but the serious assurance of his friend Copperfield to the contrary, he observed, could deprive him of the impression that his friend Copperfield loved and was beloved.†
Chpt 28-30 (definition 3) *
- Thinks go too contrary with me.†
Chpt 31-33
- How could I expect to be wanted, being so lone and lorn, and so contrary!'†
Chpt 31-33
- When we had engaged this domicile, I bought some cold meat at an eating-house, and took my fellow-travellers home to tea; a proceeding, I regret to state, which did not meet with Mrs. Crupp's approval, but quite the contrary.†
Chpt 31-33
- 'On the contrary, my love,' said I, referring to my watch, 'it's a few minutes too slow.'†
Chpt 43-45 (definition 2)
- For anything that I can perceive to the contrary, it is still probable that my children may be reduced to seek a livelihood by personal contortion, while Mrs. Micawber abets their unnatural feats by playing the barrel-organ.'†
Chpt 49-51 (definition 3)
Definitions:
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(1) (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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(2) (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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(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.