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Converse vs Contrary - What's the difference?

converse | contrary | Synonyms |

Contrary is a synonym of converse.



In obsolete terms the difference between converse and contrary

is that converse is to have knowledge of (a thing), from long intercourse or study while contrary is to be self-contradictory; to become reversed.

As verbs the difference between converse and contrary

is that converse is to talk; to engage in conversation while contrary is to oppose; to frustrate.

As nouns the difference between converse and contrary

is that converse is (noun_discourse) Familiar discourse; free interchange of thoughts or views; conversation; chat while contrary is the opposite.

As adjectives the difference between converse and contrary

is that converse is opposite; reversed in order or relation; reciprocal while contrary is opposite; in an opposite direction; in opposition; adverse.

As an adverb contrary is

contrarily.

converse

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl)

Verb

(convers)
  • (formal) To talk; to engage in conversation.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Companions / That do converse and waste the time together.
  • * Dryden
  • We had conversed so often on that subject.
  • To keep company; to hold intimate intercourse; to commune; followed by with .
  • * Thomson
  • To seek the distant hills, and there converse / With nature.
  • * Sir Walter Scott
  • Conversing with the world, we use the world's fashions.
  • * Wordsworth
  • But to converse with heaven — This is not easy.
  • (obsolete) To have knowledge of (a thing), from long intercourse or study.
  • * John Locke
  • according as the objects they converse with afford greater or less variety
    Derived terms
    * conversation

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Familiar discourse; free interchange of thoughts or views; conversation; chat.
  • * 1728 , (Edward Young), Love of Fame, the Universal Passion , Satire V, On Women, lines 44-46:
  • Twice ere the sun descends, with zeal inspir'd, / From the vain converse of the world retir'd, / She reads the psalms and chapters for the day [...].
  • * 1919 , (Saki), ‘The Disappearance of Crispina Umerleigh’, The Toys of Peace'', Penguin 2000 (''Complete Short Stories ), p. 405:
  • In a first-class carriage of a train speeding Balkanward across the flat, green Hungarian plain, two Britons sat in friendly, fitful converse .

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl)

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Opposite; reversed in order or relation; reciprocal.
  • a converse proposition

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The opposite or reverse.
  • (logic) Of a proposition or theorem of the form: given that "If A is true, then B is true", then "If B is true, then A is true."''
    equivalently: ''given that "All Xs are Ys", then "All Ys are Xs"
    .
  • All trees are plants, but the converse , that all plants are trees, is not true.
    Derived terms
    * conversely

    Anagrams

    * * English heteronyms ----

    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

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