contrario Italian · revision 38205

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=12th century, Gerardo Patecchio|origins=la contrā}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /konˈtra.rjo/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''contrario''' (feminine contraria, masculine plural contrari, feminine plural contrarie, superlative contrarissimo)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old Italian also had [[m|roa-oit|contraro]] (Guittone, Dante, Fazio degli Uberti) and [[roa-oit|contradio]] (Malispini, Boccaccio), also [[roa-oit|contrado]].^(Prati 1951|326)^(Wiktionary)^(Gabrielli 2020) The TLIO lists northern forms such as ⟨contrar⟩ and ⟨contraio⟩.^(TLIO)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a learned word, [[bor|la|contrārius|t=opposite, facing; hostile]], from the accusative ⟨contrārium⟩.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(DEI) The Latin adjective is [[m|la|contrā|t=against, opposite]] with the suffix [[m|la|-ārius]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan explains the preposition from an adjective [[itc-pro|*kom-tero-|t=the other of two who meet]], an Italic formation on [[ine-pro|*ḱom-|t=with]], and [[osc|contrud]] has the same form.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ The same learned word is [[fr|contraire]], recorded from the 12th century, [[pro|contrari]], [[es|contrario]] and [[pt|contrário]].^(REW 1935)^(DEI)^(Nocentini 2010) The derivatives [[contrariare]] and [[contrarietà]] go back to [[la-lat|contrariō|alt=contrariāre]] and [[m|la-lat|contrarietās]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is the noun, “a contrary or opposite thing”, in Gerardo Patecchio in the 12th century, and the adjective, “in opposition, conflicting”, in Brunetto Latini, who died in 1294.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003) The TLIO's first quotation is in the Venetian ''Proverbia que dicuntur''.^(TLIO)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Old Italian the word was used in philosophy for opposed elements and their qualities, and for what does harm or works against someone's wishes, hostile, and as a noun for an obstacle, harm or hostile act.^(TLIO) In the 13th century it could also mean an insult or mockery.^(DEI) Dante compares the wind of the second circle of Hell to a sea that ''mugghia come fa mar per tempesta, / se da contrari venti è combattuto'' (“roars as the sea does in a storm when it is fought over by opposing winds”).^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)^(Gabrielli 2020) The senses “adversity” and “enemy” are now obsolete.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ Modern Italian also uses the word in logic for two universal propositions, one affirmative and one negative, in mathematics for numbers of equal value and opposite sign, and in linguistics for an antonym.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011) Among the derivatives, ''contrariato'' (annoyed) is recorded in 1797 and ''contrariare'' for “to annoy” in 1844.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 12th century – Gerardo Patecchio uses the noun.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1250 – Giacomo da Lentini uses ''contrariare''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1294 – Brunetto Latini uses the adjective.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1304 – Giordano da Pisa uses ''contrarietà''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1797 – D'Alberti records ''contrariato'' “annoyed”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1844 – ''Contrariare'' is recorded for “to annoy”.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|opposite|alt=Opposite]], conflicting (often + a): ''Su questo punto abbiamo opinioni contrarie.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # Going in the opposite direction: ''La barca avanzava a fatica col vento contrario.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # [[m|en|opposed|alt=Opposed]], against (+ a), or [[m|en|unfavourable]], adverse: ''Il sindaco si è detto contrario al progetto.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # Harmful: ''un cibo contrario alla salute''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # ''(logic)'' Of two universal propositions with the same subject and predicate, one affirmative and one negative.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(mathematics)'' Of two numbers, equal in value and opposite in sign.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # The opposite, the reverse: ''Fa sempre il contrario di quello che gli si chiede.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(linguistics)'' An [[m|en|antonym]].^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # A person who is against something, especially in a vote.^(GRADIT 2003)

+ # ''(archaic)'' Adversity, misfortune, or an enemy.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[contrariare]]

+ * [[contrarietà]]

+ * [[contrariato]]

+ * [[incontrario]]

+ * [[all'incontrario]]

+ * [[contrariamente]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[contra-]]

+ * [[contro]]

+ * [[contro-]]

+ * [[la|contrarius]]

+ * [[fr|contraire]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Common phrases are ''al contrario'' (on the contrary, the other way round), ''avere qualcosa in contrario'' (to have an objection), ''in caso contrario'' (otherwise) and ''fino a prova contraria'' (until proven otherwise).^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011) A ''Bastian contrario'' is someone who always disagrees on principle.^(Gabrielli 2020)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}