▪ I. contradict, v.
(kɒntrəˈdɪkt)
[f. L. contrādict-, ppl. stem of contrādīcĕre, in cl. L. contrā dīcĕre, to speak against. Cf. F. contredire.]
= gainsay.
† 1. trans. To speak against or in opposition to; to oppose in speech; to forbid: a. a claim, action, purpose, etc. Obs.
| 1570–6 Lambarde Peramb. Kent (1826) 223 The Crosier..(they of Canterbury claymed) ought to lye upon the Altar with them—but was contradicted by them of Rochester. 1595 Shakes. John ii. i. 280 Stand in his face to contradict his claime. 1616 Bullokar, Contradict, to gainsay, or speake against. 1717 De Foe Hist. Ch. Scot. (1844) 7 The said Treaty and Marriage being proposed in Parliament, was so openly contradicted by the Priests in general..that, etc. 1754 Richardson Grandison (1781) II. 28, I will breakfast with him..to morrow morning, if he contradicts it not. |
† b. a person, in his proposals, proceedings, etc.: To oppose.
| 1632 J. Hayward tr. Biondi's Eromena 117 Being not used to contradict me. 1656 Bramhall Replic. v. 191 They..shewed that he had nothing to doe to contradict them, more then they did contradict him when he thrust Novatus out of the Church. 1661 Ussher Power Princes i. (1683) 52 Whosoever did detract from his Empire, did contradict God that constituted it. |
† c. intr. To speak in opposition, object to. Obs.
| 1616 Brent tr. Sarpi's Counc. Trent (1676) 167 Whereunto none of the holy Fathers contradicted. |
2. trans. To affirm the contrary of; to declare untrue or erroneous; to deny categorically: a. a statement.
| 1582 N. T. (Rhem.) Acts xiii. 45 The Iewes..contradicted those things which were said of Paul. 1611 Shakes. Wint. T. iii. ii. 24 Since what I am to say, must be but that Which contradicts my Accusation. 1651 Hobbes Leviath. i. xiv. 65 An Absurdity, to contradict what one maintained in the Beginning. 1725 De Foe Voy. round World (1840) 210 It went current among the seamen that the Spanish doctor was an Englishman. I took care that nobody should contradict it. 1850 M{supc}Cosh Div. Govt. ii. iii. (1874) 240 They contradict some of the deepest principles of our nature. Mod. The statement has been officially contradicted. |
b. To deny the words or statement of (a person).
| 1605 Shakes. Macb. ii. iii. 94 Deare Duff, I prythee contradict thy selfe, And say, it is not so. 1651 Hobbes Govt. & Soc. Pref., That out of a desire they have to contradict others, they gainsay themselves. 1752 Johnson Rambler No. 193 ¶8 He certainly waits with impatience to be contradicted. 1841 Borrow Zincali I. viii. ii. 352 They..never failed to contradict themselves, by permitting some expression to escape which belied their assertions. 1878 Jevons Primer Pol. Econ. 8 No ordinary person of sense ventures to contradict a chemist about chemistry or an astronomer about eclipses. |
| absol. 1754 Chatham Lett. Nephew iv. 22 There is..a particular attention required to contradict with good manners. 1777 Sheridan Sch. Scand. iii. i, Contradicting isn't the way to keep friends. |
3. transf. Of a statement, action, etc.: To be contrary to in effect, character, etc.; to be directly opposed to; to go counter to, go against.
| a 1600 Hooker (J.), No truth can contradict any truth. 1630 Prynne Anti-Armin. 137 Their liues..contradict their Doctrine. 1671 Milton Samson 301 Yet more there be who doubt his ways not just, As to his own edicts found contradicting. 1698 Norris Pract. Disc. IV. 72 Take Care that your Hands do not Contradict your Tongue. 1729 Butler Serm. xi. Wks. 1874 II. 135 To disappoint itself, and even contradict its own end. Ibid. ii. II. 25 To contradict or go against cool self-love. 1867 Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) I. App. 630 These two versions do not formally contradict one another. |
▪ II. † contraˈdict, n. Obs.
[f. prec. vb., or ad. L. contrādict-um.]
Prohibition, refusal; = contradiction 1.
| 1606 G. W[oodcocke] tr. Hist. Ivstine 40 b, If Phillip (notwithstanding this contradict) should offer to place this Image, etc. |