All 13 Uses of
contrary
in
Steppenwolf
- And then, to reconcile me further, there was his polite and friendly manner, which though it seemed to cost him some pains, was all the same quite without pretension; on the contrary, there was something almost touching, imploring in it.
(definition 1)on the contrary = an expression used to intensify denial of an idea
- With this I have gone far ahead and, contrary to my actual plan and intention, already conveyed what Haller essentially meant to me; whereas my original aim was to uncover his picture by degrees while telling the course of my gradual acquaintance with him.
(definition 2) *contrary to = in opposition to
- Oh, on the contrary!
(definition 1)on the contrary = an expression used to intensify denial of an idea
- On the contrary, he had many friends.
(definition 1)
- On the contrary, among the "suicides" are to be found unusually tenacious and eager and also hardy natures.
(definition 1)
- As every strength may become a weakness (and under some circumstances must) so, on the contrary, may the typical suicide find a strength and a support in his apparent weakness.
(definition 1)
- On the contrary, his ideal is not to give up but to maintain his own identity.
(definition 1)
- They are on the contrary far too few, and Harry does shocking violence to his poor soul when he endeavors to apprehend it by means of so primitive an image.
(definition 1)
- Man is not by any means of fixed and enduring form (this, in spite of suspicions to the contrary on the part of their wise men, was the ideal of the ancients).†
(definition 3) *
- On the contrary, it was often exceedingly painful, often almost intolerable.
(definition 1) *on the contrary = an expression used to intensify denial of an idea
- Instead of longing to be freed and completed, he longed, on the contrary, most earnestly to get back to those happy times when his intellectual trifling had been his diversion and brought him fame.
(definition 1)
- They were, on the contrary, a little or, rather, a big world, authoritative and beautiful, many sided, containing a multiplicity of things all of which had the one and only aim of serving love, refining the senses, giving life to the dead world around us, endowing it in a magical way with new instruments of love, from powder and scent to the dancing show, from ring to cigarette case, from waist-buckle to handbag.
(definition 1)
- On the contrary, they had grown to uncomfortable proportions and I had to shake myself and think of Hermine before I could go to the Globe Rooms and dared to enter.
(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