contrariety

American  

[kon-truh-rahy-i-tee] / ˌkɒn trəˈraɪ ɪ ti /

noun

contrarieties plural

1. the quality or state of being contrary.

2. something contrary or of opposite character; a contrary fact or statement.

3. Logic. the relation between contraries.

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contrariety British  

/ ˌkɒntrəˈraɪətɪ /

noun

1. opposition between one thing and another; disagreement

2. an instance of such opposition; inconsistency; discrepancy

3. logic the relationship between two contraries

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• noncontrariety
  noun

Inflected Forms

noun

• contrarieties
  plural

Etymology

Origin of contrariety

1350–1400; Middle English contrariete (< Anglo-French ) < Late Latin contrārietās. See contrary, -ity

Example Sentences

There is, of course, a great deal of vague statement and often a contrariety of opinion with regard to the other world and how things are carried on there.

From Sidelights on Chinese Life by Macgowan, J. (John)

The cause was attributed to contrarietie of winds; but the contrariety of wils was the truest impediment.

From The Lives of the III Normans, Kings of England: William the First, William the Second, Henrie the First by Hayward, John

Can there be a greater contrariety unto Christ's judgment, a more perfect antipodes to all that hath hitherto been gospel?

From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary by Webster, Noah

Wilmot and Goring were able to raise a faction hostile to the Prince, within the army itself, and it was at this period that Arthur Trevor compared the "contrariety of opinions" to the contending elements.

From Rupert Prince Palatine by Scott, Eva

And yet, at the same moment, with a contrariety of feeling from which he shrank aghast, there was skulking into his mind all that grewsome company of doubts.

From The Prophet of the Great Smoky Mountains by Murfree, Mary Noailles