contracture 
Massage is ol more value in the prevention than in the 
'in-r of i-tntl i'ii<-l in-'-*, stillne*-, ami anrtiylosis. 
lint-It* Iliiiiilliiink "< Mi-'l. SM M -. IV. 1158. 
A strong i-i'iiti-iti-tin-i- ol the foot produced in one of 
them rertainly reappeared ill the other. 
/; Bvrntf, Mind. XII. 42ii. 
2t. Taking; catching: iis, cniiti-in-liiri- of a fever. 
contractured (kon-trak'turd), a. [< eontnn-- 
tiin- + ->-il-.] s!itTerine;"i'rom or affected by 
conlracltire ; constricted. 
A preliminary stivtchinn of the i-mili-nrlm-i-il canal. 
Mi-il. .\ ., XI. VII. BIT. 
contra-dance (kon'tra-daus), . [Modified 
from F. cnutredanxf (= Sp. cnntradan:a = Pg. 
<-<iii/r(iil(tnca = It. c<intraildan:a), < eon trc, op- 
posite, + danse, dance: see contra and dance.] 
A dance by four couples placed opposite each 
other and making the same steps and figures. 
contradict ( kon-tra-dikt'), r. [< L. contradic- 
IH.I, pp. of contradieere (> F. contredire = Pr. 
contradirt! = Sp. cuntradecir = Pg. contradizer = 
It. eontradtlirf), in class. L. two words, contra 
dicere, speak against: contra, against; dicere, 
speak: see contra and diction.] I. trans. 1. To 
assert the contrary or opposite of; deny direct- 
ly and categorically : as, his statement was at 
once contradifted. 
What I am to say must lie but that which contradict* 
my accusation. Shak., W. T., iii. -2. 
I have more Manners than to contradict what a Lady 
has declar'd. Conyreve, Love for Love, 1. 11. 
It has often been said that in no country are land-own- 
ers so ignorant of their legal position or so dependent on 
legal advice as in England ; and I believe it cannot be 
contradicted. !'. J'ulliick, Land Laws, p. 4. 
2. To deny the words or assertion of ; address 
or speak of in contradiction : as, he contriidict- 
ed the previous speaker; I contradicted him to 
his face. 
When another asserted something that I thought an 
error, I deny'd myself the pleasure of contradicting him 
abruptly. Franklin, Autobiog., I. 243. 
3. To oppose; act or be directly contrary to; 
be inconsistent with : as, the statement which 
was made contradicts experience. 
No truth can contradict another truth. Hooker. 
The Impugner of that veracity [of our sensuous faculties] 
contradict* himself, since the veracity of the senses is 
doubted by him on account of his acceptance of the tes- 
timony of his senses. Mivart, Nature and Thought, p. 113. 
4f. To speak or declare against ; forbid. 
'Tls she is sub-contracted to this lord. 
And I, her husband, contradict your banns. 
Shak., Lear, v. 3. 
= Syn. 1. To gainsay, Impugn, controvert, dispute. 2. 
To contravene. 
II. intrans. To utter a contrary statement 
or a contradiction ; deny. 
The Jews . . . spake against those things which were 
spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. 
Acts xili. 45. 
contradictable (kon-tra-dik'ta-bl), a. [< con- 
tnidict + -able.] That may be contradicted; 
deniable; disputable. 
contradictor (kon-tra-dik'ter), . [= P. con- 
tradicteur = Sp. contradictor, contraditor = Pg. 
contraditor = It. contraddittore, < LL. contra- 
dictor, < L. contradieere, pp. contradictus, speak 
against: see contradict&na-er^.] One who con- 
tradicts or denies; an opposer. Also contra- 
dictor. 
If a gentleman happen to be a little more sincere in 
his representations, ... he Is sure to have a dozen con- 
tmdietan. Sw\ft, State of Ireland. 
contradiction (kon-tra-dik'shon), n. [=P. con- 
tradiction = Sp. eontrndifi'iiin = Pg. contradic- 
cflo = It. contraddi:i<me, < L. contradictio(n-), 
< rontradicere, pp. contradictus, speak against : 
see contradict. L. contradictio(n-) in the strict 
logical sense was first used by Boethius to trans- 
late Gr. avrl<t>aatf. ] 1 . An assertion of the direct 
opposite to what lias been said or affirmed ; 
denial ; contrary declaration. 
I make the assertion delilierately, without fear of coii- 
tradiction, that this globe really was created, and that it 
is composed of land and water. 
li-riiu.i. Knickerbocker, p. >0. 
2. Opposition, whether by argument or con- 
duct. 
Consider him that endured such contradiction of sin- 
ners against himself. Heb. xll. 3. 
That tongue, 
Inspir'd with contradiction, durst oppose 
A third part of the gods. Milton, f. L., vl. 155. 
3. Direct opposition or repuignancyj absolute 
inconsistency; specifically, the relation of two 
propositions which are so opposed that one 
must be false and one must be true. 
78 
1233 
If truth be once perceived, we <lo thereby also per- 
eeive whatever is false ill '-'in! i-Hi In-tu- II to it. 
.V. Hi-en-, i osmologia Sacra. 
The character of the Italian statesman seems, at first 
siuht, a collection of <-<ntti-<i<lirtiii>m, a phantom a-s inoii- 
stioiis as the portress of hell in Milton, half divinitv. 
halt snake, majestic and l>cautifill al.oie, v ro\i-llin^ an. I 
poisonous below. Macniiiuij. Maehiavelli. 
4. Figuratively, a person who or a thing whicli 
is self-contradictory or inconsistent. 
Woman's at best a contrinlii-H'm still. 
Heaven, when It strives to polish all It can 
Its last best work, but forms a softer man. 
J'oiif, Moral Essays, II. 270. 
Contradiction In terms, a self-contradictory phrase, 
as "a square circle." Principle of contradiction, tin- 
principle that nothing can be both trm- ami false in th. 
same sense ami in the same respect*. Modern formal logic 
demonstrates that thin principle enters Into a large part 
<if our reasoning, lint forms the hiiiyc only of a few very 
simple inferencesfnot of direct syllogism). Formerly many 
logicians regarded the law of contradiction as the govern- 
ing principle of all demonstrative reasoning. According- 
ly, it is often referred to as such without regard to it- ex- 
act signification. The law was enunciated by Aristotle, 
but ita name was perhaps first given to it by Rainus. 
The pro|ioaition that no subject can have a predicate 
which contradicts it is called the princijtlf of contradic- 
tion. It lit a general though negative criterion of all truth. 
Kant, Critique of Pure Reason, tr. by Muller, p. 151. 
The highest of all logical laws, in other words the supreme 
aw of thought, Is what is called the principle of contra- 
diction, or, more correctly, the principle of non-contradic- 
I ion. It is this : A thing cannot lie and not IK at the same 
time. Sir W. Hamilton, Metaph., xxxviii. 
contradictionalt (kon-tra-dik'shon-al), a. [< 
rmitradirtiint + -/.] Contradictory; inconsis- 
tent. 
We have trl'd already, and miserably felt . . . what 
the boisterous and contradictiotuil hand of a temporal), 
earthly, and corporeall Spiritualty can avalle to the edi- 
fying of Chrlsts holy Church. 
Miltim, Reformation In Eng., II. 
contradictious (kon-tra-dik'shus), . [< con- 
tradii-ti-on + -OMS.] 1." Inclined to contradict; 
disposed to deny, dispute, or cavil. [Kare.] 
Bondet was argumentative, contradiction*, and Irascible. 
Bp. of KUlala'n Sarrativr, p. 54. 
2. Filled with contradictions; self-opposed; 
inconsistent. [Rare.] 
Contrailictioitx Incon&istentness. 
Dr. 11. More, Infinity of Worlds, st. 49. 
How, then, Is it possible for Institutions, admitted to be 
so utterly repugnant In their nature as to lie directly de- 
structive of each other, to be so blended as to form a gov- 
ernment partly federal and partly national? What can 
be more contradiction* I Calhoun, Works, 1. 152. 
contradictiously (kou-tra-dik'shus-li), adr. In 
a contradictious manner'; contrarily. [Rare.] 
" No, I sha'n't," said old Keatherstone contradict iotttly. 
George Eliot, Mlddlemarch, xxxii. 
contradictiousness (kon-tra-dik'shus-nes), w. 
1. Disposition to contradict, dispute, or cavil. 
2. Contradictoriness ; inconsistency; inner 
contrariety. [Rare in both uses.] 
This opinion was, for its absurdity and cuntradicttotu- 
MM, unworthy of the refined spirit of Plato. Norrit. 
contradictive (kon-tra-dik'tiv), a. [< contra- 
dict + -ice.] Containing contradiction; con- 
tradictory; inconsistent; opposed. [Rare.] 
Though faith lie set on a height beyond our human per- 
spicieuce, I can believe It rather super-elevated than con- 
tradictia! to our reason. Feltham, Resolves. 
contradictively (kon-tra-dik'tiv-li), adv. By 
contradiction. 
contradictor (kou-tra-dik'tor), n. Same as con- 
Imdicii-r. 
contradictorily (kon-tra-dik'to-ri-li), adv. 1. 
In a contradictory manner ; so as to contradict, 
or be self -conflicting. 2. Con tentiously; with 
opposition ; specifically, upon contest or litiga- 
tion in opposition, as distinguished from pro- 
ceeding by default or consent. 
The suit was then revived, and afterwards conducted 
i;>,>t,'<i<li<-tt>rilii with the administratrix. 
Chief Justice Waite. 
Contradictoriness (kon-tra-dik'to-ri-nes), n. 
Direct opposition ; contrariety in assertion or 
effect. 
Confounding himself by the contradictorineu of his own 
i.l, as. Whilaker, Gibbon, Ix. 
contradictorioust (kon'tra-dik-to'ri-us), a. [< 
LL. fimtradiftiiriiix: see contradictory.] Dis- 
posed to contradict or deny ; contrary. 
This is therefore a co/itradictoriow* humour in you, to 
decry the parliament in 1049 that you may extoll the par- 
liament in 1841. Sfntr Trial, I.t.-Col. l.illmrne (1649X 
contradictoriouslyt (kou'tra-dik-to'ri-us-li), 
mir. In ii cuiitrailictorious manner, 
contradictory (kon-tra-dik'to-ri), a. and M. 
[= F. riintraiiirtiiirr = Pr. coiifradictori = Sp. 
I'liii/rinlictiirio = Pg. contraditorio = It. contrad- 
dittorio,(. \j\j.cntrn(lii-lnrius,<, contradictor, one 
contragredient 
who opposes: nee muli -niliriir. ] I. a. 1. Deny- 
ing that something stiiN <1 "i approved is com- 
pletely true ; diametrically opposed. [This ia 
the meaning of the word in logic.] 
i;,,,ifti:iit-iin'i,- pro|nniition can neither be true nor false 
Ikith at once : for If one be true, the other iinit need* be 
false, whether the matter lie natural), or roiithiKent ; u, 
I/. < M man Ujust; Some man is not just. 
Ill u iittr rillr, Arte of Loglcke (l.v.ci). 111. 
2. Inconsistent; logically antagonistic; inca- 
pable of being true together (though both may 
be false). 
Schemes . . . almurd , and contradictory to common sense. 
Addimni, Freeholder. 
In bis present agitation he could decide on nothing; he 
could only alternate lietwien ,-,,,,irinli, !,, ,i intentions. 
<;,-in-tjr KIM, Mill on tile Films, vl. 13. 
= 8yn. C'ontrarv, lncoH*i*tent, etc. Seecon//"'". 
fi. n.; ]i\.riiiitr<i(lictorien(-nz). A proposition 
of a pair inconsistent with each other, or each 
of which precisely denies or falsifies the other. 
It is common with princes (salth Tacitnx) to will con- 
trmllftorift. Bacon, Empire. 
How shall I, or any man else, say "amen" to their 
prayers, that preach anil pray amtradift<irir*t 
Jtr. Taylor, Works <ed. 1885), II. 286. 
N'o man is certain of a truth, who can endure the thought 
of the fact of its cuutrailictury existing or occurring: nd 
that not from any set pnrjiose or effort to reject it, but, 
as I have said, by the spontaneous action of the intellect. 
./. //. ftfttrtnan, (iram. of Assent, p. 187. 
contradistiuct (kon'tra-dis-tingkf), a. [< con- 
tra- + distinct.] Distinguished by opposite qual- 
ities. [Rare.] 
A coHtradijttinft term. Ooothrin, Works, IV. iv. 31. 
contradistinction (kon'tra-dis-tmgk'shon), n. 
[< contra- + distinction.] Distinction by oppo- 
site qualities ; direct contrast : generally pre- 
ceded by in and followed by to. 
We speak of sins of Infirmity, in anitradiltinctitm to 
those of presumption. South. 
It Is Impossible to give a complete and perfect definition 
of a plant, in contradistinction to what Is to lie regarded as 
an animal. Ii. Bentky, Botany, Int., p. 4. 
contradistinctive (kon'tra-dis-tingk'tiv), a. 
iiml H. [< con tra-+ distinctive.] I. a. 1. Hav- 
ing the quality of or characterized by contra- 
distinction; opposite in qualities. 2. Distin- 
guished by opposites. 
This diversity lietween the cotitradutinctice pronouns 
and the enclitic is not unknown even to the English 
tongue. Harris, Hermes, I. 5. 
H. M. A mark of contradistinction. Harris. 
contradistinguish (kon ' tra - dis - ting ' gwish), 
r. f. [< contra- + distinguish.] To distinguish 
not merely by differential, but by opposite qual- 
ities ; discriminate by direct contrast. 
Our Idea of body . . . is (of) an extended solid substance, 
capable of communicating motion by Impulse : and our 
Idea of soul ... Is of a substance that thinks, and has 
a power of exciting motion in liody, by will or thought. 
These . . . are our complex ideas of soul and body, as 
cant ra -d wt ing u inhfd. 
Locke, Human Understanding, II. xxili. 22. 
Revelation makes creation, as cimlradutinguithed from 
redemption, a purely objective work of God. 
//. Jttmet, Subs, and Shad., p. 78. 
contrafactiont (kon-tra-fak'shon), M. A coun- 
terfeiting. Hlount. 
COntrafagottO(kon'tra-fa-got'to), n. [It., < 
contra (see contra-) + fagotto.] 1. A double 
bassoon. 2. An organ reed-stop made to imi- 
tate the tones of the double bassoon. 
contrafissure (kon'tra-fish-ur), n. [< contra- + 
Jixsure.] In sura., a fissure or fracture in the 
cranium caused by a blow, but on the side op- 
posite to that which received the blow, or at 
some distance from it. 
contrafocal (kou-tra-fo'kal), a. [< contra- + 
focal.] In math., having, as two conies or 
conicoids, the differences of the squared axes 
of one equal to those of the other. 
contrageometric (kon-tra-je-d-met'rik), a. [< 
contra- + i/eometrif.] In math., the distinctive 
appellation of two kinds of proportion and 
mean, represented by the formulas 
6:c 
c:o ft, 
c:o 6. 
contragredience (kon-trfi-gre'di-ens), n. [< con- 
tragnilirnt : see -encc.] "In math., the relation 
of contraprreilient sets of variables. 
contragredient (kon-trii-gre'di-ent), a. [< L. 
contra, against, + ijradirn(t-)s, ppr. of gradi (in 
comp. -gredi), go : see gradient, and cf. ingre- 
dient.] In ninth., said of a set of variables sub- 
ject to undergo linear transformation simulta- 
neously with another set (to which the first is 
said to be contraaredient), the two transforma- 
tions being inverse to one another. Tims, let the 
