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.
Quotation dates: 1456-1594, 1689
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Contrary, Contrarie, n. Also: -arye, contrairie, -tirary, contrari. [ME. contrarie (c 1250), -arye; cf. Contrary a.] = Contrare n. (in various uses).(1) 1456 Hay I. 138/11.
I will say all the contrary of this 1456 Ib. 280/14; etc.
Thare was na memorye in the contrarye c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlvi. 81.
The nychtingaill said, ‘Trew is the contrary’ a1578 Pitsc. I. 42/19.
I will exort ȝow … [to] stope no man … bot be contrairie first to minister justice [etc.] 1689 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII. 558.
Not only nether … prayed for King William … but on the contirary did pray … for the late King James(2) 1456 Hay II. 45/6.
Sa suld he … defend lautee and equitee in contrary of falsehede and trecherye a 1470 Liber Aberbr. 108.
In contrary owr predecessoris wyllis 1507 Exch. Rolls XIII. 597.
That nane of yow tak uppoune hand to do incontrari thairof c1515 Asloan MS I. 329/11.
Be thai in contrary or derogacoun of it in ony thing, that is no law 1521 Thanes of Cawdor 139.
All maner of actionys … that the said Sir Johne hes … incontrary al mane that lywys or de may(3) c1550 Rolland Court of Venus iii. 242.
Sen thay all set ay thair mind … To pleis Venus in my greit contrarie c1550 Ib. 245. 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis iii.
Quhen men rais in our contrairie(4) 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 27.
That we suld afoir hand … be heard … eather for our selfis or for thame whome she maketh to be hir contraries 1594 Colville Lett. 106.
Many contrareis tydes among us
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"Contrary n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/contrary_n>
