All 21 Uses of

contrary

in

The Portrait of a Lady

It was on the contrary because she felt too wide-eyed and wished to check the sense of seeing too many things at once.†
Chpt 4 *

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

The letter she carried in her pocket all sufficiently reminded her of the contrary.†
Chpt 12

Then she viewed with reserve a habit he had of dressing always in the same manner; it was not apparently that he wore the same clothes continually, for, on the contrary, his garments had a way of looking rather too new.†
Chpt 13

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

"On the contrary," said Mrs. Touchett, who rarely missed a logical point; "if I remembered your telling me would be quite superfluous."†
Chpt 18

"It's not that I'm afraid of your repeating what I say," her fellow visitor answered; "I'm afraid, on the contrary, of your taking it too much to yourself.†
Chpt 19

Nothing that belongs to me is any measure of me; everything's on the contrary a limit, a barrier, and a perfectly arbitrary one.†
Chpt 19

On the contrary, to-day, in the train, he seemed particularly well; the idea of our reaching Rome—he's very fond of Rome, you know—gave him strength.†
Chpt 38

She would rest upon this till the contrary should be proved; proved more effectually than by a cynical intimation of Osmond's.†
Chpt 42 *

On the contrary, it was because she was clever that she had pleased him.†
Chpt 42

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

She always seemed a little frightened; yet her fright was not of the painful character that suggests dislike; on the contrary, she looked as if she knew that he knew she liked him.†
Chpt 43

There were no dukes and marquises there now; she remembered on the contrary one day when there were five American families, walking all round.†
Chpt 47

Madame Merle's self-possession tended on the contrary to diminish, and she was nearer losing it than on any occasion on which we have had the pleasure of meeting her.†
Chpt 49

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

Isabel had hoped that condition would subside; and she shrank into herself as she perceived that, on the contrary, he had only let out sail.†
Chpt 55

It was the graceful contrary of the stupid side of weakness—especially the feminine variety.†
Chpt 20 *

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)