contrarious
Americanadjective
-
Chiefly Appalachian. perverse; refractory.
-
Archaic. adverse; unfavorable.
adjective
-
(of people or animals) perverse or obstinate
-
(of conditions) unfavourable
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of contrarious
1250–1300; Middle English (< Anglo-French ) < Latin contrārius contrary; see -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.
Volumes of report Run with these false and most contrarious guests Upon thy doings!
From Life of Mary Queen of Scots, Volume II (of 2) by Bell, Henry Glassford
It was the son who sang the “Death of Nelson” under such contrarious circumstances.
From The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. 2 (of 25) by Stevenson, Robert Louis
You and I seem to meet in a mild contrarious harmony ... as in the 'si no, si no' of an Italian duet.
From The Letters of Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Barrett, Vol. 1 (of 2) 1845-1846 by Browning, Robert
O place and greatness, millions of false eyes Are stuck upon thee! volumes of report Run with these false, and most contrarious quest Upon thy doings!
From Measure for Measure by Shakespeare, William
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 My Schools and Schoolmasters or The Story of my Education. by Miller, Hugh
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.
