All 21 Uses of

contrary
in
Jane Eyre

Impossible to reply to this in the affirmative: my little world held a contrary opinion: I was silent.
p. 39.3 *

contrary = different

I hardly know where I found the hardihood thus to open a conversation with a stranger; the step was contrary to my nature and habits: but I think her occupation touched a chord of sympathy somewhere; for I too liked reading, though of a frivolous and childish kind; I could not digest or comprehend the serious or substantial.
p. 59.5

contrary to = in opposition to

Surely it will never, on the contrary, be suffered to degenerate from man to fiend?†
p. 70.3 *

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

It was not my habit to be disregardful of appearance or careless of the impression I made: on the contrary, I ever wished to look as well as I could, and to please as much as my want of beauty would permit.
p. 117.2

I did not like her the worse for that; on the contrary, I felt better pleased than ever.
p. 119.5

I don't know — it is not easy to describe — nothing striking, but you feel it when he speaks to you; you cannot be always sure whether he is in jest or earnest, whether he is pleased or the contrary; you don't thoroughly understand him, in short — at least, I don't: but it is of no consequence, he is a very good master.†
p. 124.6

A reception of finished politeness would probably have confused me: I could not have returned or repaid it by answering grace and elegance on my part; but harsh caprice laid me under no obligation; on the contrary, a decent quiescence, under the freak of manner, gave me the advantage.†
p. 141.9

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

However, I mentally shake hands with you for your answer, despite its inaccuracy; and as much for the manner in which it was said, as for the substance of the speech; the manner was frank and sincere; one does not often see such a manner: no, on the contrary, affectation, or coldness, or stupid, coarse-minded misapprehension of one's meaning are the usual rewards of candour.†
p. 158.3

I almost expected a rebuff for this hardly well-timed question, but, on the contrary, waking out of his scowling abstraction, he turned his eyes towards me, and the shade seemed to clear off his brow.†
p. 168.1

Not that I humbled myself by a slavish notion of inferiority: on the contrary, I just said "You have nothing to do with the master of Thornfield, further than to receive the salary he gives you for teaching his protegee, and to be grateful for such respectful and kind treatment as, if you do your duty, you have a right to expect at his hands.†
p. 189.5

Again I looked at the face; which was no longer turned from me —on the contrary, the bonnet was doffed, the bandage displaced, the head advanced.†
p. 234.3

Not, however, to go to bed: on the contrary, I began and dressed myself carefully.†
p. 240.3

— when I told you how she, on the contrary, deserted me: the idea of my insolvency cooled, or rather extinguished, her flame in a moment.†
p. 303.6

A mile off, beyond the fields, lay a road which stretched in the contrary direction to Millcote; a road I had never travelled, but often noticed, and wondered where it led: thither I bent my steps.†
p. 369.2 *

On the contrary, I think in time I shall get on with my scholars very well.†
p. 415.9

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

I DO see a certain justice; but it is contrary to all custom.
p. 446.7 *

contrary to = in opposition to

I mean, on the contrary, to be busy.†
p. 451.3

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

Not at all; he had, on the contrary, remarked that I had scrupulously respected every association: he feared, indeed, I must have bestowed more thought on the matter than it was worth.†
p. 453.1

I, on the contrary, became more cheerful, and took fresh courage: these last words gave me an insight as to where the difficulty lay; and as it was no difficulty with me, I felt quite relieved from my previous embarrassment.†
p. 503.1

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