All 8 Uses of
contrary
in
Hard Times
- The jail might have been the infirmary, the infirmary might have been the jail, the town-hall might have been either, or both, or anything else, for anything that appeared to the contrary in the graces of their construction.†
Chpt 1.5 (definition 1) *
- 'On the contrary,' returned Mr. Gradgrind.†
Chpt 1.6 (definition 2) *
- 'It is of no moment,' said he, 'whether this person is to be expected back at any time, or the contrary.†
Chpt 1.6
- There is some disparity in your respective years, but in your means and positions there is none; on the contrary, there is a great suitability.†
Chpt 1.15 (definition 2)
- However, the Coketowners were so patriotic after all, that they never had pitched their property into the Atlantic yet, but, on the contrary, had been kind enough to take mighty good care of it.†
Chpt 2.1 (definition 2)
- Stephen, whose way had been in the contrary direction, turned about, and betook himself as in duty bound, to the red brick castle of the giant Bounderby.†
Chpt 2.4
- I may have praised her for being the contrary, and I should do it again, if I had as good reason.†
Chpt 2.7 *
- 'On the contrary, Tom Gradgrind, the more we say to-night, the better, I think.†
Chpt 3.3 (definition 2)
Definitions:
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(1) (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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(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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(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.