Con·tra·ry, n.; pl. Contraries
 1. A thing that is of contrary or opposite qualities.
 No contraries hold more antipathy
 Than I and such a knave.   --Shak.
 2. An opponent; an enemy. [Obs.]
 3. the opposite; a proposition, fact, or condition incompatible with another; as, slender proofs which rather show the contrary. See Converse, n., 1.
 4. Logic See Contraries.
 On the contrary, in opposition; on the other hand. --Swift.
 To the contrary, to an opposite purpose or intent; on the other side. “They did it, not for want of instruction to the contrary.” --Bp. Stillingfleet.


 Con·tra·ries n. pl.  Logic Propositions which directly and destructively contradict each other, but of which the falsehood of one does not establish the truth of the other.
    If two universals differ in quality, they are contraries; as, every vine is a tree; no vine is a tree. These can never be both true together; but they may be both false.   --I. Watts.

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