[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

contrary \con"trary\ ? or ?; 48, a. oe. contrarie,
   contraire, f. contraire, fr. l. contrarius, fr. contra. see
   contra-.
   1. opposite; in an opposite direction; in opposition;
      adverse; as, contrary winds.
      1913 webster

            and if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not
            hearken unto me.                      --lev. xxvi.
                                                  21.
      1913 webster

            we have lost our labor; they are gone a contrary
            way.                                  --shak.
      1913 webster

   2. opposed; contradictory; repugnant; inconsistent.
      1913 webster

            fame, if not double-faced, is double mouthed,
            and with contrary blast proclaims most deeds.
                                                  --milton.
      1913 webster

            the doctrine of the earth's motion appeared to be
            contrary to the sacred scripture.     --whewell.
      1913 webster

   3. given to opposition; perverse; forward; wayward; as, a
      contrary disposition; a contrary child.
      1913 webster

   4. logic affirming the opposite; so opposed as to destroy
      each other; as, contrary propositions.
      1913 webster

   contrary motion mus., the progression of parts in
      opposite directions, one ascending, the other descending.

   syn: adverse; repugnant; hostile; inimical; discordant;
        inconsistent.
        1913 webster
see also:
contra- contrary motion 

[2] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

contrary \con"trary\, n.; pl. contraries.
   1. a thing that is of contrary or opposite qualities.
      1913 webster

            no contraries hold more antipathy
            than i and such a knave.              --shak.
      1913 webster

   2. an opponent; an enemy. obs. --chaucer.
      1913 webster

   3. the opposite; a proposition, fact, or condition
      incompatible with another; as, slender proofs which rather
      show the contrary. see converse, n., 1. --locke.
      1913 webster

   4. logic see contraries.
      1913 webster

   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.
      1913 webster
see also:
contraries converse on the contrary to the contrary 

[3] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

contrary \con"trary\, v. t. f. contrarier. see contrary, a.
   to contradict or oppose; to thwart. obs.
   1913 webster

         i was advised not to contrary the king.  --bp. latimer.
   1913 webster
see also:
contrary 

[4] : WordNet (r) 2.0

contrary
     adj 1: very opposed in nature or character or purpose; "acts
            contrary to our code of ethics"; "the facts point to a
            contrary conclusion"
     2: of words or propositions so related that both cannot be true
        but both may be false; "`hot' and `cold' are contrary
        terms"
     3: resistant to guidance or discipline; "mary mary quite
        contrary"; "an obstinate child with a violent temper"; "a
        perverse mood"; "wayward behavior" syn: obstinate, perverse,
         wayward
     4: in an opposing direction; "adverse currents"; "a contrary
        wind" syn: adverse
     n 1: a relation of direct opposition; "we thought sue was older
          than bill but just the reverse was true" syn: reverse,
           opposite
     2: exact opposition; "public opinion to the contrary he is not
        guilty"
     3: two propositions are contraries if both cannot be true but
        both can be false
see also:
obstinate perverse wayward adverse reverse opposite 

[5] : Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

275 moby thesaurus words for "contrary":
   abjuratory, abnegative, adversary, adversative, adverse, adversive,
   alien, antagonistic, anti, antipathetic, antipodal, antipode,
   antipodean, antipodes, antipole, antithesis, antithetic,
   antithetical, antonym, antonymous, argumentative, assorted,
   at cross-purposes, at loggerheads, at odds, at opposite extremes,
   at variance, at war, awkward, back to back, bad, balancing, balky,
   bulky, cantankerous, choking, clashing, clumsy, compensating,
   competitive, con, conflicting, confounding, confronting,
   confutative, confuting, constrictive, contra, contradicting,
   contradictory, contradistinct, contrapositive, contrarily,
   contrarious, contrariwise, contrasted, contrasting, contrawise,
   contumacious, converse, conversely, counter, counteractive,
   counterbalance, counterbalancing, countercheck, counterpoint,
   counterpoise, counterpoised, counterpole, counterproductive,
   counterterm, countervailing, cranky, cross, cross-grained,
   crosswise, cumbersome, dead against, denying, departing,
   detrimental, deviant, deviating, deviative, different,
   differentiated, differing, difficult, disaccordant, disaffirming,
   disagreeable, disagreeing, disallowing, disavowing, disclaiming,
   discordant, discrepant, discrete, discriminated, disharmonious,
   disjoined, disowning, disparate, disproportionate, dissentient,
   dissenting, dissident, dissimilar, dissonant, distinct,
   distinguished, divergent, diverging, divers, diverse, diversified,
   enemy, eyeball to eyeball, face to face, foil, foul, fractious,
   froward, grating, hard, harmful, headstrong, heterogeneous,
   hindering, hindersome, hostile, hulking, hulky, immiscible,
   impractical, in disagreement, in opposition, in opposition to,
   in the way, inaccordant, inauspicious, incompatible, incongruous,
   inconsistent, inconsonant, inconvenient, inharmonious, inhibiting,
   inhibitive, inimical, inopportune, insubordinate, interrupting,
   interruptive, intractable, inverse, irascible, irreconcilable,
   jangling, jarring, just opposite, many, miserable, motley,
   multifarious, negative, negatory, nonconformable, nonconforming,
   nonconformist, noncooperative, nonobservant, nose to nose,
   not easy, obstinate, obstructing, obstructive, obstruent, obverse,
   occlusive, offset, opponent, opposed, opposing, opposite,
   opposite number, oppositely, oppositional, oppositive, oppugnant,
   ornery, out of accord, out of whack, overthwart, perverse,
   perversely, polar, poles apart, poles asunder, ponderous,
   rebellious, recalcitrant, recanting, recusant, refractory,
   refutative, refutatory, refuting, renunciative, renunciatory,
   repressive, repudiative, repugnant, restive, restrictive, reverse,
   revocative, revocatory, rigorous, rival, self-willed, separate,
   separated, setoff, several, sinister, squared off, stifling,
   strangling, stressful, stubborn, stuffy, sulky, sullen,
   suppressive, the contrary, the other side, troublesome, troublous,
   trying, unaccommodating, unadaptable, unadjustable, uncompliant,
   unconformable, unconforming, uncongenial, uncooperative, unequal,
   unfavorable, unfortunate, unfriendly, unhandy, unharmonious,
   unlike, unlucky, unmanageable, unpropitious, unruly, unsubmissive,
   untoward, unwieldy, variant, varied, variegated, various, varying,
   vice versa, vis-a-vis, wayward, widely apart, worlds apart,
   wretched, wrongheaded

Contrary >> C Words
Contrary, definition of term: Contrary
contrary_pag1.html

On The Contrary >> O Words
On The Contrary, definition of term: On The Contrary
on+the+contrary_pag1.html