‖ e contra, adv. phr.
(eɪ ˈkɒntrɑː)
[Late L. (also as one word, econtra).]
a. Conversely; vice versa.
| ? 1550 tr. Vigo's Lytell Practyce sig. Biiiv, Take powdre of Osmonde, and of the roote of Pyeny for the man the male, & for the woman E contra, and the powdre of Mortegon. 1621 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy iii. ii. 653 He loves her most impotently, shee loues not him, and so è contra. a 1680 T. Goodwin Wks. (1681) I. 201 All Salvation hath a Life supposed to be saved, but not è contrà; the Angels live, yet are not said to be saved. 1727 Cowell's Interpr. sig. Ggi/1 Where the Men hock the Women on Monday, and e contra on Tuesday. |
b. In the opposite direction; from the opposite side.
| 1782 J. Adams Diary 18 Oct. (1961) III. 29 Doors through which Men pass from the Canal, under the Street into the Cellars of the Houses and e contra from the Cellars to the Canal. |
c. Logic and (esp. U.S.) Law. On the contrary, on the other hand; in return.
| 1843 J. S. Mill Syst. Logic II. iii. xx. 100 If..every resemblance proved between B and A, in any point not known to be immaterial with respect to m, forms some additional reason for presuming that B has the attribute m; it is clear, è contra, that every dissimilarity which can be proved between them, furnishes a counter-probability of the same nature on the other side. 1936 Atlantic Reporter CLXXXI. 320/1 When the factual issues, real or claimed, are submitted to a jury for determination, such an assignment does not point to a reviewable judicial ruling in a matter of law; e contra, it does when the trial judge determines the issues without a jury. 1947 U.S. Tax Court Rep. IX. 502 This fact reduced petitioner's costs. E contra, had adequate recognition been given to this fact, petitioner's proper costs would have been greater. |