contrarious
Americanadjective
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Chiefly Appalachian. perverse; refractory.
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Archaic. adverse; unfavorable.
adjective
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(of people or animals) perverse or obstinate
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(of conditions) unfavourable
Other Word Forms
- contrariously adverb
- contrariousness noun
Etymology
Origin of contrarious
1250–1300; Middle English (< Anglo-French ) < Latin contrārius contrary; -ous
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Alas! what more contrarious deed, What greater miracle of wrong than this, That man should know his good and take it not?
From Project Gutenberg
Volumes of report Run with these false and most contrarious guests Upon thy doings!
From Project Gutenberg
The Gaelic man had no sooner entered the Kirk o' the General Assembly," they said, "than the maister of the Assembly rose, and, speaking very rough, said, 'Ye contrarious rascal, what tak's you here?
From Project Gutenberg
It was the son who sang the “Death of Nelson” under such contrarious circumstances.
From Project Gutenberg
God of our fathers! what is Man, That thou towards him with hand so various— Or might I say contrarious?—
From Project Gutenberg
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.