All 7 Uses of

contrary

in

Wuthering Heights

'On the contrary, a tiresomely active one.†
Chpt 7 *

on the contrary = an expression used to intensify denial of an idea

On the contrary, I shall have great pleasure in sending it to perdition to punish its Maker,' exclaimed the blasphemer.†
Chpt 9

And if you flatter yourself that I don't perceive it, you are a fool; and if you think I can be consoled by sweet words, you are an idiot: and if you fancy I'll suffer unrevenged, I'll convince you of the contrary, in a very little while!†
Chpt 11

Linton, on the contrary, displayed the true courage of a loyal and faithful soul: he trusted God; and God comforted him.†
Chpt 17

on the contrary = an expression used to intensify denial of an idea

'You cannot deny that you entered my house of your own accord, in contempt of his injunctions to the contrary.†
Chpt 27 *

Shame at her scorn, and hope of her approval, were his first prompters to higher pursuits; and instead of guarding him from one and winning him to the other, his endeavours to raise himself had produced just the contrary result.†
Chpt 31

Definitions:

(1) (contrary as in: a contrary idea)
different (perhaps opposite or mutually exclusive)

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.
(2) (contrary as in: a contrary personality)
disagreeable -- typically in reference to someone's personality
(3) (contrary to as in: contrary to)
in opposition to

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.
(4) (on the contrary as in: on the contrary)
an expression used to intensify denial of an idea

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.
(5) (to the contrary as in: to the contrary)
with an opposite or different effect; or something with an opposite or different effect
(6) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)