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Contrary to nature. [R.] Harvey.

To plead the contrary of; to plead against; to deny.

A contrary method of procedure; opposite course of action.

A swaying in a contrary direction; an opposing influence. [Obs.] A countersway of restraint, curbing their wild exorbitance. Milton.

The critical moment in a play, when, contrary to expectation, the action is embroiled in new difficulties. Dryden.

Criminal; wicked; contrary to law, right, or dury. [Obs.] Shak.

Not accordant with what is wished or expected; interrupting; adverse; contrary; thwarting; perverse. "A cross fortune." Jer. Taylor. The cross and unlucky issue of my design. Glanvill. The article of the resurrection seems to lie marvelously cross to the common experience of mankind. South. We are both love's captives,…

into the surfase of any piece of furniture, wainscoting, etc., so that the grain of it is contrary to the general surface.

To flow across, or in a contrary direction. "His crossflowing course." Milton.

ng. If the stuff proves crossgrained, . . . then you must turn your stuff to plane it the contrary way. Moxon.

r unconsciously, wholly by self- interest or self-indulgence, and that appearances to the contrary are superficial and untrustworthy. He could obtain from one morose cynic, whose opinion it was impossible to despise, scarcely any not acidulated with scorn. Macaulay.

to the trial of mortal fight. Milton. I defy the enemies of our constitution to show the contrary. Burke.

A dissuader; an adviser to the contrary. [Obs.]

ossibility of doubt or denial. We can not demonstrate these things so as to show that the contrary often involves a contradiction. Tillotson.

The act of gainsaying, refusing, or disowning; negation; -- the contrary of affirmation. You ought to converse with so much sincerity that your bare affirmation or denial may be sufficient. Bp. Stillingfleet.

part; to repeal partly; to restrict; to limit the action of; -- said of a law. By several contrary customs, . . . many of the civil and canon laws are controlled and derogated. Sir M. Hale.

efiance of; in spite of. See under Spite. "Seized my hand in despite of my efforts to the contrary." W. Irving. -- In your despite, in defiance or contempt of you; in spite of you. [Obs.]

Of various or contrary nature, form, or quality; partially or totally unlike; dissimilar; as, different kinds of food or drink; different states of health; different shapes; different degrees of excellence. Men are as different from each other, as the regions in which they are born are different. Dryden.…

ne another or to a magnet or armature common to both, that one coil produces polar action contrary to that of the other.

To assert the contrary of; to contradict; to deny; -- said of that which has been asserted.