from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
- adj. Perverse; inimical.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
- adj. Tending to counter, oppose, resist, argue.
- adj. Harmful, vexatious.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English
- adj. Showing contrariety; repugnant; perverse.
from The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- Opposing; antagonistic; contrary; rebellious.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- adj. difficult to deal with
But before he could set to work there came more "contrarious" orders.
Note: any further contrarious commentary should be directed to Monsieur Espinasse.
And therefore thei maken ymages lyche to tho thinges, that thei han beleeve inne, for to beholden hem and worschipen hem first at morwe, or thei meeten ony contrarious thinges.
And there is a marveylouse custom in that contree, (but is profitable) that zif ony contrarious thing, that scholde ben preiudice or grevance to the Emperour, in ony kynde, anon the
And the puttynge of the litylle fynger in the ere, betokenethe, as thei seyn, that none of hem ne schalle not here speke no contrarious thing to the emperour, but that he schalle telle it anon to his conseille, or discovere it to sum men that wille make relacioun to the emperour; thoughe he were his fadre or brother or sone.
And there is a marvellous custom in that country (but it is profitable), that if any contrarious thing that should be prejudice or grievance to the emperor in any kind, anon the emperor hath tidings thereof and full knowledge in a day, though it be three or four journeys from him or more.
And therefore they make images like to those things that they have belief in, for to behold them and worship them first at morning, or they meet any contrarious things.
And the putting of the little finger in the ear betokeneth, as they say, that none of them ne shall not hear speak no contrarious thing to the emperor but that he shall tell it anon to his council or discover it to some men that will make relation to the emperor, though he were his father or brother or son.
And then would he shew them his intent, and say them, that if they would go slay such a lord, or such a man that was his enemy or contrarious to his list, that they should not dread to do it and for to be slain therefore themselves.
So when they were in the sea a contrarious wind blew them on the coasts of North Wales, nigh the