Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CON'TRA-RY, a. [L. contrarius, from contra, against; Fr. contraire; Sp. and It. contrario.]

1. Opposite; adverse; moving against, or in an opposite direction; as, contrary winds.
2. Opposite; contradictory; not merely different, but inconsistent or repugnant. The flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary, the one to the other. – Gal. v. This adjective, in many phrases, is to be treated grammatically as an adverb, or as an adjective referring to a sentence or affirmation; as, this happened contrary to my expectations. The word here really belongs to the affirmation or fact declared, this happened; for contrary does not, like an adverb, express the manner of happening, but that the fact itself was contrary to my expectation. According, agreeable, pursuant, antecedent, prior, anterior, &c., are often used in the like manner.