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. Chaucer.
3. the opposite; a proposition, fact, or condition incompatible with another; as, slender proofs which rather show the contrary. See Converse, n., 1. Locke.
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.