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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, prep. Also: countrair. [Elliptic use of in contrare Contrare sb. 2 b, or of the adj. with omission of to.]

1. In opposition to, against.(a) c 1400 Newbattle Chart. (Reg. H.).
The for-said abbot … sall varrand … the said pece of land to the said Ranald & his airis contrar all deidly c1475 Wall. vii. 1120.
Contrar Scotland thai wrocht full gret wnrycht 1495 Acta Conc. 382/1.
[He] arguit contrare the assedacioun … maid to Johne of Knollis 1508 Rec. Earld. Orkney 80.
All other evidence … to be na awale contrar this appuntament 1517 Reg. Privy S. I. 452/2.
Complicis in thare tresonable conspiratiouns contrare the king 1531 Bell. Boece I. 29.
Ane gud havin, to ressave schippis contrar the winter stormes 1549 Compl. 2/16.
The actis that ȝour prudens garris daly be exsecut, contrar the cruel voffis of Ingland 1570 Leslie 175.
Sum quha … persuadit the Erle of Lenox … to … adjone with thame, contrar the Governour 1587 Reg. Privy C. IV. 154.
The sentenceis of foirfaltour and barratrie gevin contrare him 1597 Misc. Spald. C. II. 142.
Quhair na persone nor partie compeirit to oppone contrar the breife 1625 Garden Kings 5.
This Prince … Faught contrare both his fortune and his foes(b) 1549 Compl. 77/15.
Iudas Machabeus, … gaddyryt to giddyr al the desolat pepil, and … cam contrair Anthiocus 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1210.
He wald heir … Contrair my will deforcit me 1567 G. Ball. 36.
I haif bene to bauld Sinnand contrair the heuin and thé a1578 Pitsc. I. 117/10.
Dispaird … of ony victorie to fall to him countrair his enemyeis 1596 Dalr. I. 309/10.
Because he had beine true contrair the traytouris 1611 Mure Misc. P. i. 78.
To saile without ane routher Contrair both waue and wind 1625 Peebles B. Rec. 366.
The decreit of improbatioun at the townes instance contrair thair vassellis 1640 Kirkcudbr. Min. Bk. 140.
Ane ordinar murmurer and complainer contraire the proceidings of the Estaites

b. Over against; towards. 1531 Bell. Boece I. 108.
Al thair bakkis wer set contrar ane deip rivere 16.. Hist. Kennedy 60.
The Laird … com out to the wod, contrair Esche-wod-dykis — 1596 Dalr. I. 72/11.
Contrare his ennimies … al humanitie … he vset

2. Contrary to, at variance with.(a) a1500 Henr. Orph. 8 (A).
Yt is contrar the lawis of natur A gentill man to be degenerat a1500 Lanc. 658.
That is al contrare our entent c1515 Asl. MS. I. 320/12.
I reid litill or nocht that the son contrar nature brak his cours 1535 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 72.
All thai persouns quhilks … remanis furth of the towne contrar the act 1562-3 Winȝet I. 116/14.
Ar ȝe nocht, contrare the Scriptuir, acceptouris of persones? 1596 Dalr. II. 415/17.
That ȝour actis be in verie deid cloise contrare thae deidis(b) 1562-3 Winȝet II. 68/27.
The dissensioun of ane or few erroneous contrair the consent of al a1568 Scott xxvi. 6.
I fynd thair haill affectioun So contrair thair complexioun 1616 Misc. Hist. Soc. II. 156.
Interpreting his meaning contrair the intention