All 50 Uses of
contrary
in
The Count of Monte Cristo
- One more practiced in the arts of great cities would have hid her blushes beneath a veil, or, at least, have cast down her thickly fringed lashes, so as to have concealed the liquid lustre of her animated eyes; but, on the contrary, the delighted girl looked around her with a smile that seemed to say: "If you are my friends, rejoice with me, for I am very happy."†
Chpt 5-6 (definition 1)
- …possessions they afterwards purchased for a mere trifle during the Reign of Terror, would be compelled to own, were they here, that all true devotion was on our side, since we were content to follow the fortunes of a falling monarch, while they, on the contrary, made their fortune by worshipping the rising sun; yes, yes, they could not help admitting that the king, for whom we sacrificed rank, wealth, and station was truly our 'Louis the well-beloved,' while their wretched usurper his…†
Chpt 5-6 (definition 1)
- He was—nay, probably may still be—a Bonapartist, and is called Noirtier; I, on the contrary, am a stanch royalist, and style myself de Villefort.†
Chpt 5-6 (definition 1) *
- Then the king, who, without our suspecting it, had overheard our conversation, interrupted us by saying, 'Villefort'—observe that the king did not pronounce the word Noirtier, but, on the contrary, placed considerable emphasis on that of Villefort—'Villefort,' said his majesty, 'is a young man of great judgment and discretion, who will be sure to make a figure in his profession; I like him much, and it gave me great pleasure to hear that he was about to become the son-in-law of the…†
Chpt 5-6 (definition 1)
- , "I think you are wrongly informed, and know positively that, on the contrary, it is very fine weather in that direction."†
Chpt 9-10 (definition 1)
- "On the contrary, sir,—on the contrary," said Louis XVIII.†
Chpt 11-12 (definition 1)
- "On the contrary, sir,—on the contrary," said Louis XVIII.†
Chpt 11-12 (definition 1)
- "My dear father," said Villefort, "I am, on the contrary, delighted; but I so little expected your visit, that it has somewhat overcome me."†
Chpt 11-12 (definition 1)
- He had entered Villefort's office expecting that the magistrate would tremble at the sight of him; on the contrary, he felt a cold shudder all over him when he saw Villefort sitting there with his elbow on his desk, and his head leaning on his hand.†
Chpt 13-14 (definition 1)
- None; on the contrary, he was very kind to me.†
Chpt 13-14 (definition 1)
- If, on the contrary, it is a prisoner, the noise I make will alarm him, he will cease, and not begin again until he thinks every one is asleep.†
Chpt 15-16 (definition 1)
- …teaches him to delight in shedding blood, needs but the sense of smell to show him when his prey is within his reach, and by following this instinct he is enabled to measure the leap necessary to permit him to spring on his victim; but man, on the contrary, loathes the idea of blood—it is not alone that the laws of social life inspire him with a shrinking dread of taking life; his natural construction and physiological formation"— Dantes was confused and silent at this explanation of…†
Chpt 15-16 (definition 1)
- "On the contrary, it is a matter of the utmost importance, Edmond!" replied the old man.†
Chpt 17-18 (definition 1)
- "Oh, my friend," cried Dantes, "on the contrary, it seems as if I were reading a most interesting narrative; go on, I beg of you."†
Chpt 17-18 (definition 1)
- I resolved to set out, and did set out at that very instant, carrying with me the beginning of my great work, the unity of the Italian kingdom; but for some time the imperial police (who at this period, quite contrary to what Napoleon desired so soon as he had a son born to him, wished for a partition of provinces) had their eyes on me; and my hasty departure, the cause of which they were unable to guess, having aroused their suspicions, I was arrested at the very moment I was leaving…†
Chpt 17-18 (definition 2)
- "Never, sir," replied the jailer, "never; on the contrary, he sometimes amused me very much by telling me stories.†
Chpt 19-20 (definition 1)
- Already Dantes had visited this maritime Bourse two or three times, and seeing all these hardy free-traders, who supplied the whole coast for nearly two hundred leagues in extent, he had asked himself what power might not that man attain who should give the impulse of his will to all these contrary and diverging minds.†
Chpt 22-23
- His wife, on the contrary, whose maiden name had been Madeleine Radelle, was pale, meagre, and sickly-looking.†
Chpt 25-26 (definition 1)
- One day, when, contrary to his custom, he had admitted Mercedes, and the poor girl, in spite of her own grief and despair, endeavored to console him, he said to her,—'Be assured, my dear daughter, he is dead; and instead of expecting him, it is he who is awaiting us; I am quite happy, for I am the oldest, and of course shall see him first.'†
Chpt 27-28 (definition 2)
- "For the dead man, yes," replied M. de Boville, "but not for the survivor; on the contrary, this Dantes saw a means of accelerating his escape.†
Chpt 27-28 (definition 1)
- But this did not arise from a want of affection; on the contrary, from a firm conviction.†
Chpt 29-30 (definition 1)
- "No, no," said M. Morrel, "I am not angry, quite the contrary, and I do not send you away; but I have no more ships, and therefore I do not want any sailors."†
Chpt 29-30
- Unfortunately, whether through envy or stupidity, all Morrel's correspondents did not take this view; and some even came to a contrary decision.†
Chpt 29-30
- But, contrary to all expectation, when the 31st of August came, the house opened as usual, and Cocles appeared behind the grating of the counter, examined all bills presented with the usual scrutiny, and, from first to last, paid all with the usual precision.†
Chpt 29-30 (definition 2) *
- If, on the contrary, I die, remember, Maximilian, my corpse is that of an honest but unfortunate man.†
Chpt 29-30 (definition 1)
- "On the contrary," returned Gaetano, "the chief, who was told you were a young Frenchman, invites you to sup with him."†
Chpt 31-32 (definition 1)
- Otherwise, his head was perfectly clear, and his body refreshed; he was free from the slightest headache; on the contrary, he felt a certain degree of lightness, a faculty for absorbing the pure air, and enjoying the bright sunshine more vividly than ever.†
Chpt 31-32 (definition 1)
- Vampa gazed on him for a moment without betraying the slightest emotion; while, on the contrary, Teresa, shuddering in every limb, dared not approach the slain ruffian but by degrees, and threw a hesitating glance at the dead body over the shoulder of her lover.†
Chpt 33-34 (definition 1)
- Upon arriving at her hotel, Franz perceived that she had deceived him when she spoke of expecting company; on the contrary, her own return before the appointed hour seemed greatly to astonish the servants.†
Chpt 33-34 (definition 1)
- Not at all; on the contrary, you will give me great pleasure.†
Chpt 35-36 (definition 1)
- …entertainer; but whether with his usual carelessness he had paid but little attention to him, whether the explanation of the Count of Monte Cristo with regard to duelling had satisfied him, or whether the events which Franz knew of had had their effect on him alone, he remarked that his companion did not pay the least regard to them, but on the contrary ate like a man who for the last four or five months had been condemned to partake of Italian cookery—that is, the worst in the world.†
Chpt 35-36 (definition 1)
- "I think, on the contrary, that it is a charming night," replied the countess, "and those who are here will complain of but one thing—its too rapid flight."†
Chpt 37-38 (definition 1)
- "You see, on the contrary, I come to you first and instantly," replied Franz.†
Chpt 37-38 (definition 1)
- And this time it must be confessed that, contrary to the usual state of affairs in discussions between the young men, the effective arguments were all on Albert's side.†
Chpt 37-38 (definition 2)
- In after years, whether he had forgotten this interchange of presents, which ought to have cemented our friendship, or whether he did not recollect me, he sought to take me, but, on the contrary, it was I who captured him and a dozen of his band.†
Chpt 39-40 (definition 1)
- "Oh, yes," returned the young man, smiling; "on the contrary, I have one, but I expected the count would be tempted by one of the brilliant proposals made him, yet as he has not replied to any of them, I will venture to offer him a suite of apartments in a charming hotel, in the Pompadour style, that my sister has inhabited for a year, in the Rue Meslay."†
Chpt 39-40 (definition 1)
- "Undeceive yourself, monsieur," replied Monte Cristo; "I am quite sure, that, on the contrary, he will choose everything as I wish.†
Chpt 39-40 (definition 1)
- Morcerf had expected he should be the guide; on the contrary, it was he who, under the count's guidance, followed a course of archaeology, mineralogy, and natural history.†
Chpt 41-42 (definition 1)
- Monte Cristo, on the contrary, took the right hand; arrived near a clump of trees, he stopped.†
Chpt 43-44 (definition 1)
- But, after we had taken in our cargo, the wind became contrary, so that we were four or five days without being able to enter the Rhone.†
Chpt 43-44
- At the sight of this slaughter and devastation I became terrified, not for myself—for I, a simple Corsican fisherman, had nothing to fear; on the contrary, that time was most favorable for us smugglers—but for my brother, a soldier of the empire, returning from the army of the Loire, with his uniform and his epaulets, there was everything to apprehend.†
Chpt 43-44 (definition 1)
- La Carconte, on the contrary, rose, and going with a firm step towards the door, opened it, saying, as she did so—'Come in, dear M. Joannes.†
Chpt 43-44 (definition 1)
- The quick, eager glance of La Carconte followed him as he ascended, while Caderousse, on the contrary, turned his back, and seemed most anxiously to avoid even glancing at him.†
Chpt 45-46 (definition 1)
- The very circumstances which inflict on you, as a principal in the tragic scene enacted here, such painful emotions, are to me, on the contrary, a source of something like contentment, and serve but to enhance the value of this dwelling in my estimation.†
Chpt 45-46 (definition 1)
- Monte Cristo on the contrary, preserved a graceful suavity of demeanor, aided by a certain degree of simplicity he could assume at pleasure, and thus possessed the advantage.†
Chpt 45-46 (definition 1)
- "How singular," murmured Maximilian; "your father hates me, while your grandfather, on the contrary—What strange feelings are aroused by politics."†
Chpt 51-52 (definition 1)
- Madame de Villefort at this really did turn pale, and was very nearly angry with this household plague, who answered to the name of Edward; but the count, on the contrary, smiled, and appeared to look at the boy complacently, which caused the maternal heart to bound again with joy and enthusiasm.†
Chpt 51-52 (definition 1)
- "No, madame, I did not say as much as that," replied the count with a smile; "quite the contrary.†
Chpt 51-52 *
- No, madame, contrary to most history, it is true; but what you tell me, madame, what you inquire of me, is not the result of a chance query, for two years ago you asked me the same questions, and said then, that for a very long time this history of Mithridates had occupied your mind.†
Chpt 51-52 (definition 2)
- "You have ample proof to the contrary, if you look opposite," said the baroness, as she laughingly pointed to the beautiful Greek.†
Chpt 53-54 (definition 3) *
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.