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.
Contrary, v. Also: -arie, -airie, p.t. -areit. [ME. contrarie, -arye (Wyclif, Chaucer), OF. contrarier, Late L. contrāriāre.]
1. tr. To oppose; to act or speak against.1375 Barb. iii. 271.
Men … That fortoun contraryit fast, And come to purpos at the last Ib. ix. 470.
I trow … that him sair repent sall he That he the king contraryit ay c1420 Wynt. ii. 832 (C).
I wil noucht thir oppynyonys all Contrary, for thai mycht weil fall Ib. viii. 4108 (R).
Fewteys he tuk off mony thare, … For nane durst hym contrary ?1438 Alex. i. 2407.
I die with dule and wa, Bot he stoutly contraryed be! c1515 Asl. MS. I. 314/7.
[This] figuris the Iowis contrarying Crist 1513 Doug. iv. iii. 72.
Affermys all hir wil, contrarying nocht, Of Cetheron Venus the goddes brycht
b. Of the wind. Also intr., to be contrary.c1400 Troy-bk. i. 427.
Wykked wyndis blast That suld thame contrary so fast … That all suld peryse hastely 1587 Waus Corr. II. 396.
Ve … twik saill … vyth fayr vynd till Settyrday, that the vind contrareit us 1627 Bk. Carlaverock II. 103.
If the wind had anie wayes contraried, they had bene in great daunger of famishinge a1649 Drummond Hist. James V 103.
The winds contrarying his course, … the pilot asketh him [etc.]
2. intr. To speak in reply or opposition.a1500 Henr. Fab. 2677.
His aduersar … [suld be] summound … For to propone, contrarie, or reply 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 278.
Bot twichyng Virgillis honour and reuerens, Quha euer contrary, I mon stand at defens
