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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Contrar(e, Contrair, adv. [f. the adj. So late ME. contrary.]

1. In a contrary way; to or on the contrary. a1500 Bk. Chess 2003.
Of ane howris tyme impediment The man contrar may cum till his entent 1515 Edgerston Writs (Reg. H.).
And gif thai contrair do, the samen salbe of na effect c1550 Rolland C. Venus i. 340.
The day sall cum thy barnelie insolence Contrair sall turne 1562-3 Winȝet II. 31/25.
On the wthir syde, contrare cryis certane padokis 1585 James VI Ess. 72.
But contrar, when thow will Withdraw thy face, then are they troubled sair 1596 Dalr. I. 5/27.
Contrare in winter, … the lenth is payed with the schortnes Ib. 20/31.
This kynde is verie rid, with black spotis amang, or contrare 1640 Lithgow Poet. Rem. 219.
All things runne contrare, in a head-strong change

2. With to: Contrary to, in contravention of. (Cf. Contrare a. 3 b.) 1568 Pref. Lyndesay 9.
Transporting of victuallis furth of the realme, contraire to the statutis thairof 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 25.
In ressetting … of hir rebellis contrair to promeis 1628 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. II. 438.
The penall statuts … aganis the buyers and blockers of victuall … contrare to the law 1665 Decis. Lords G. 94.
The requisition being made contrair to the contract, it could not be valid to loose the infeftment 1692 15th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. IX. 59.
I … had beene at home ere now, if we had not judged it very prejudiciall to your bussines to a pairted contrair to your freinds will