contrariety

American  

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

noun

plural

contrarieties

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

• noncontrariety noun

Etymology

Origin of contrariety

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

Example Sentences

He says what you wouldn’t expect; if Dyson has a pattern, perhaps it is contrariety.

From Nature

Mr. Sharpe shook his head as if to clear it of contrarieties.

From Literature

He lays out all of Benton’s contrarieties, argues them through, prosecuting, defending, and usually leaves them as he found them.

From New York Times

From this conflict between thought and fact the problem arises; out of this partial contrariety springs the question, "Why?"

From Project Gutenberg

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 Project Gutenberg