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Contrary vs Peculiar - What's the difference?

contrary | peculiar | Related terms |

As adjectives the difference between contrary and peculiar

is that contrary is opposite; in an opposite direction; in opposition; adverse while peculiar is out of the ordinary; odd; curious; unusual.

As nouns the difference between contrary and peculiar

is that contrary is the opposite while peculiar is that which is peculiar; a sole or exclusive property; a prerogative; a characteristic.

As an adverb contrary

is contrarily.

As a verb contrary

is to oppose; to frustrate.

contrary

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Opposite; in an opposite direction; in opposition; adverse.
  • contrary winds
  • * Bible, Leviticus xxvi. 21
  • And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me
  • * Shakespeare
  • We have lost our labour; they are gone a contrary way.
  • Opposed; contradictory; inconsistent.
  • * Whewell
  • The doctrine of the earth's motion appeared to be contrary to the sacred Scripture.
  • Given to opposition; perverse; wayward.
  • a contrary''' disposition; a '''contrary child

    Derived terms

    * contrarian * contrarily * contrariwise * contrary to

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • Contrarily
  • Noun

    (contraries)
  • The opposite.
  • * Shakespeare
  • No contraries hold more antipathy / Than I and such a knave.
  • One of a pair of propositions that cannot both be simultaneously true.
  • * I. Watts
  • If two universals differ in quality, they are contraries ; as, every vine is a tree; no vine is a tree. These can never be both true together; but they may be both false.

    Synonyms

    * witherward

    Derived terms

    * on the contrary * to the contrary

    Verb

    (en-verb)
  • (obsolete) To oppose; to frustrate.
  • *Bishop Latimer
  • *:I was advised not to contrary the king.
  • *, I.47:
  • *:The Athenians having left the enemie in their owne land, for to pass into Sicilie , had very ill successe, and were much contraried by fortune.
  • (obsolete) To impugn.
  • (obsolete) To contradict (someone or something).
  • *:
  • *:thus wilfully sir Palomydes dyd bataille with yow / & as for hym sir I was not gretely aferd but I dred fore la?celot that knew yow not / Madame said Palomydes ye maye saye what so ye wyll / I maye not contrary yow but by my knyghthode I knewe not sir Tristram
  • *, II.12:
  • *:I finde them everie one in his turne to have reason, although they contrary one another.
  • (obsolete) To do the opposite of (someone'' or ''something ).
  • (obsolete) To act inconsistently or perversely; to act in opposition to .
  • (obsolete) To argue; to debate; to uphold an opposite opinion.
  • (obsolete) To be self-contradictory; to become reversed.
  • References

    * * * *

    peculiar

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Out of the ordinary; odd; curious; unusual.
  • The sky had a peculiar appearance before the storm.
    It would be rather peculiar to see a kangaroo hopping down a city street.
  • * 1800 , , Volume 41, page 379,
  • I saw nothing peculiar in his conduct, and thought that his arrangement of the ballot box was perfect.
  • * 2001 , Jack Schaefer, Wendell Minor, Shane ,
  • "Wasn't it peculiar ," I heard mother say, "How he wouldn't talk about himself?"
    "Peculiar ?" said father. "Well, yes, in a way."
    "Everything about him is peculiar ." Mother sounded as if she was stirred up and interested. "I never saw a man quite like him before."
  • * 2008', Stephen Arnott, '''''Peculiar Proverbs: Weird Words of Wisdom from Around the World .
  • Common or usual for a certain place or circumstance; specific or particular.
  • Kangaroos are peculiar to Australia.
  • * 1855 , ,
  • This philosopher found his ideas especially in all that is practical,[29] that is, which rests upon freedom, which in its turn ranks under cognitions that are the peculiar product of reason.
  • *
  • * 1895 , , XX: Anomalous Islands: Celebes,
  • But of late years extensive Tertiary deposits of Miocene age have been discovered, showing that it is not a mere congeries of volcanoes; it [Iceland] is connected with the British Islands and with Greenland by seas less than 500 fathoms deep; and it possesses a few mammalia, one of which is peculiar', and at least three ' peculiar species of birds.
  • (dated) One's own; belonging solely or especially to an individual; not shared or possessed by others.
  • * Bible, Titus ii. 14
  • And purify unto himself a peculiar people.
  • * Hooker
  • hymns that Christianity hath peculiar unto itself
  • (dated) Particular; individual; special; appropriate.
  • * Milton
  • while each peculiar power forgoes his wonted seat
  • * Dryden
  • My fate is Juno's most peculiar care.

    Synonyms

    * (out of the ordinary) strange, uncommon, unusual * (common or usual in a particular place or circumstance) specific

    Antonyms

    * (out of the ordinary) common, usual * (common or usual in a particular place or circumstance) common, general, universal

    Derived terms

    * peculiarity * peculiarly * peculiarness

    See also

    * (wikipedia "peculiar")

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • That which is peculiar; a sole or exclusive property; a prerogative; a characteristic.
  • * South
  • Revenge is the peculiar of Heaven.
  • (UK, canon law) A particular parish or church which is exempt from the jurisdiction of the ordinary.
  • References

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