All 6 Uses of
contrary
in
The Da Vinci Code
- Unfortunately, it was an expensive model equipped with a two-way radio feature, which, contrary to his orders, was now being used by one of his agents to page him.†
Chpt 9 (definition 1) *
- She knew she should usher Langdon from the museum immediately, and yet instinct urged her to the contrary.†
Chpt 21-22 (definition 2) *
- The epithet, despite sounding flattering, was quite to the contrary.†
Chpt 37-38 (definition 2)
- The Vatican is made up of deeply pious men who truly believe these contrary documents could only be false testimony.†
Chpt 55-56 *
- Langdon followed Sophie to the westbound District and Circle Line platform, where she hurried to a pay phone to call the police, despite Rémy's warning to the contrary.†
Chpt 87-88 (definition 2)
- On the contrary, it is quite possible.†
Chpt 99-100 (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) (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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(3) (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.