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.

---

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

---

Other Word Forms

• noncontrariety noun

Etymology

Origin of contrariety

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

Example Sentences

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

Where different principles beget a contrariety of conduct, which is the case with all different political principles, the matter may be more easily explained.

From Essays by Hume, David

But Isidorito, contrary to what might have been believed, considering his vast legal attainments and his gravity no less vast, met with a slight contrariety in his love-making.

From The Marquis of Pe?alta (Marta y Mar?a) A Realistic Social Novel by Palacio Vald?s, Armando

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

What can be the cause of this strange contrariety?

From Voltaire's Romances, Complete in One Volume by