All 14 Uses of

contrary

in

A Soldier of the Great War

Contrary to most theologians, I have always believed that even worms and weasels have souls, and that even they are capable of salvation.
Chpt 1 (definition 1) *

contrary to = in opposition to

He would listen eagerly not because he had any hint of what the old man would elucidate, but, to the contrary, because he hadn't the vaguest idea of what had made the man who limped steadily alongside him on the road to Sant' Angelo and Monte Prato.
Chpt 1 (definition 2) *

to the contrary = from an opposite effect

To the contrary, and may God forgive us, as they go past and we remain, we'll take from them everything they have.†
Chpt 1 (definition 2)

"Later," Alessandro said, since part of his business was to be contrary.
Chpt 2 (definition 3) *

contrary = disagreeable

She never quite believed, even later, when she had heard many protestations to the contrary, that when people stared at her it was not because they thought she was hideous, and this made her beautiful almost beyond belief.†
Chpt 2 (definition 2)

Alessandro had contrary and volatile opinions and did a good job of justifying them even when they were totally absurd.
Chpt 2 (definition 4) *

contrary = opposite

With neither apologies nor care, nor thought, nor credit given to the many contrary proofs, Alessandro believed that the portrait of Bindo Altoviti— "il ritratto suo quando era giovane," his portrait when he was young-was as alive as any of the light that calibrates the time that says of us that we live.†
Chpt 3 (definition 4)

To the contrary, he was seduced by the hope that seemed to come to them so easily.†
Chpt 6 (definition 2)

"On the contrary," Alessandro answered. "You've outmaneuvered us, and we offer our consent because you've forced us to it."
Chpt 6 (definition 5) *

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

Contrary to his expectations, he neither talked to himself nor sang.
Chpt 6 (definition 1)

contrary to = in opposition to

"To the contrary," Orfeo said, wagging his finger, "the war goes brilliantly, and I don't even care."†
Chpt 7 (definition 2)

Quite to the contrary, it's a land of light, and soon I'll have to ask you if I'm floating.†
Chpt 10 (definition 2)

Definitions:

(1) (contrary to as in: contrary to)
in opposition to

editor'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.

(2) (to the contrary as in: to the contrary)
with an opposite or different effect; or something with an opposite or different effect

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

(4) (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.

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

editor'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.