contravene 
come, = E. come, q. v.] 1. To come or be in 
conflict with ; oppose in principle or effect ; im- 
pede the operation or course of. 
Laws that place the subjects in such a state contravene 
the first principles of the compact of authority ; they ex- 
act obedience and yield no protection. 
Johnson, Jour, to Western Isles. 
The right of the weak to be governed by the strong, of 
the blind to be led by those who have eyes, in no way can- 
travenet the right of life, liberty, and the pursuit of hap- 
piness The Century, XXVI. 537. 
1236 
French dance, named from the position of the 
dancers (originally only two), who stand oppo- 
site one another. It is a polite and graceful dance, 
and not to be confounded with country-dance, which is a 
species of English branle, and on being introduced into 
France was also called contredanse from the confusion of 
sounds. See country-dance. 
The French contredanse made its first appearance in 
English society, under the name of quadrille, shortly after, 
or about the time of, the peace of 1815. 
N. and Q., 6th ser., IX. 453. 
contrist 
individual or by many; something furnished as 
a joint share or constituent part. 
Of Aristotle's actual contributions to the physical sci- 
ences I have spoken in the history of those sciences. 
Whewell, Philos. of Discovery. 
The inner arcades and the west doorway [of a little 
dnoniol are worthy of real study, as contribution* to the 
stuck (jf what is at any rate singular in architecture. 
E. A. Freeman, Venice, p. 207. 
Specifically 3. A writing furnished as a dis- 
tinct part of a periodical or other joint literary 
, __ 
rlvlmr m-inciules upon which its [quarantine's] 2. A musical composition in duple or sextuple WO rk. 4. Milit., an imposition paid by a fron- 
woYkings are baled are the modes of transmission and rhythm, and divided into strains of 8 measures tier ooun t r y to secure itself from being plunder- 
the period of incubation of the disease to be contravened, each, suitable for such a dance. 
The i 
Science, vi. 24. con t re -ennine (kon ' tr - er ' min), n. Same as 
2. To act so as to combat or violate; trans- erminex. 
gress: as, to contravene the law. contrefac6 (kon'tr-fa-sa'), a. Same as coun- 
The former [the house of Lancaster) contravened the con- terfaeed. 
stitutiou only when it was itself in its decrepitude. ^ COn'trefetet. A Middle English form of COUnter- 
ed by the enemy's army ; an imposition upon a 
country in the power of an enemy, which is 
levied under various pretenses and for various 
purposes, usually for the support of the army. 
The people 'twixt Philippi and this ground 
Do stand but in a forc'd affection ; 
For they have grudg'd us contribution. 
Shak., J. C., Iv. 8. 
"fort.]' In/oW., a brickwork revetment for ram- 5. In law, a payment made by each of several, 
?)"r Sure aud the Bible, p. 32. parts on the side of the terreplein. or for counter- having a common interest, of his share in a 
=Syn To cross, run counter to, militate against, contra- scarps, gorges, and demi-gorges, and for sides loss suffered or m an amount paid, by one of 
diet, defeat, nullify, neutralize. or ends of bomb-proof magazines. the number for the common good : as, for in- 
contravener (kon-tra-ve'ner), M. One who con- contre-lettre (kon-tr-let'r), . [F. : see coun- stance, a payment levied on each of the several 
' - 
Stubbs, Const. Hist., 363. 
Chaucer. 
He [the materialist] knows that, ** more knowledge contre f or t (kon'tr-fort), n. [F. : see eounter- 
and power, he could overcome them [difficulties], and this WMWWW1. A hriftk^n* revetment for ram- 
, 
A deed of defeasance ; a coun- owners of a vessel for equalizing the loss aris- 
s bent on taking against that rash ter obligation. It commonly implies a secret ing from sacrifices made for the common safety 
eorge Eliot, Mill on the Floss, ii. 2. qualification of an apparently absolute transfer, in sea voyages, where the ship is in danger of 
on-tra-ven'shqn), n. [= F. contrepa!6 (kon-tr-pa-la'), a. Sa 
travenes ; one who antagonizes or violates. 
The measures he was bent on taking against that rash 
contravener. d 
contravention (k< .. ... 
contravention = Sp. contravencion = Pg. contra- 
ve, 
traventio 
see 
tagonizing, or obstructing; counteraction 
There may be holy contradictions and humble contra- 
ventions. Artif. Handsomeness, p. 67. 
2. The act of transgressing or violating ; viola- 
tion: as, the proceedings of the allies were in 
contravention of the treaty. 
He was pursued by a couple of hundred Englishmen, 
ter- and letter.'} 
ter obligation. 
Same as coun- being lost or captured Action or suit for contri- 
encao = It. contravvenzione, < ML. as if "con- contrepoint6 (kon-tr-pwan-ta'), a. 5 
raventio(n-), < LL. contrarenire, contravene: counterjiointe. 
ee contravene.] 1. The act of opposing, an- contretemps (kon'tr-ton), . [F., = 
SHTTIB as < several parties, wno nas uiscnargeu a naoiuiy ci 
to all, to compel the others to contribute thereto propor- 
tionally. 
._. . . Sp. COH- con t r ibutional (kon-tri-bu'shon-al), a. [< con- 
tratienipo = Pg. contratempo = It. contrattem- tribution + -al.] Pertaining to or making a con- 
po, < L. contra, against, + tempm, time: see tribution. 
contra and temporal.] An unexpected and un- contributive (kon-trib'u-tiv), a. [= F. contribu- 
toward event; an embarrassing conjuncture; tif=Pg. It. contributivo; as contribute + -ive.] 
a "hitch." Tending to contribute; contributing; having 
contre-vair (kon-tr-var'), a. [F.] Same as the power or quality of giving a portion of aid 
counters-airy. or influence ; furnishing a joint part or share. 
taken prisoner, and, in contravention of the trace, lodged contrevet, " An obsolete form of contrive*. yy e challenge to ourselves something as contributive to 
in the castle ( Of o C^Hsle. ^ ^ ^^ ^^ ^ ^ COntribual (kon-trib'u-al),, a. \ '. L. com-, tc . handsomeness. TrOj. Handsomeness, p. 99. 
In contravention of all his marriage speculations. 
Motley. 
gether, + tribus (nt-'),"tribe, + -al] Belong- contributor (kon-trib'u-tor), . [= F. con- 
muuxu * n S *? *ke 8ame tribe. tributeur = It. "coutributbre"<. L. as if *contri- 
. ,, , 7 . , .. , , , ',' contributable (kon-trib'u-ta-bl), . \_<contrib- vu to,-, < contribuere, pp. contributus, contrib- 
Specifically 3. Violation of a legal condition ( + _ ((W Cf. F. contribuable.] Capable of ute: 8ee contribute.] 1. One who contributes ; 
orobligation by ; which the contravener is bound: bein? contr i bu ted. one who gives or pays 
especially applied, in Acote lav, to an act done contr l butaryt (kon-trib'u-ta-ri), a. [= F. con- else of value to a com 
by an heir of entail in opposition to the provi- Mbutaire n . and a . ; as contr ibute + -aryl. wh o aids in effecting a c 
sions of the deed or to acts of molestation or Cf tributary ^ Contributory; tributary. cifically, one who find 
outrage committed by a person in violation of 
Iversao, < LL. as it*contrarersio(n-), < con- contribute (kon-trib'ut), v. ; pret. and pp. COH- utary. 
sus, turned against, < L. con tra, against, + tributed, ppr. contributing. [< L. contribute, Himselfe as rich in all his Equipage as any Pnnce in 
,pp. of Wffe^tSi: see rers'e.] A turn- pp. of 'contribute (> It .contribuire = Sp Pg. Chnstendome, ^ &*? *. ,. 45 . 
.. .*, iJ - J _-_ 1 .. rT>-_- -> ' 
outrage 
law-burrows. 
contraversion (kon-tra-ver'shon), n. [== 
contraversav 
tracersus, 
versus, ^ ^ 
ing to the opposite side ; antistrophe. [Bare.] 
The second Stanza was call'd the Antistrophe, from the 
Contraversion of the Chorus ; the Singers, in performing 
that, turning from the Left Hand to the Kight. 
Congreve, The Pindarique Ode. 
contraviolino (kon'tra-ve-o-le'no), n. ; pi. COM- 
traviolini (-ne). [It., < contra (see contra) + 
violino.] The double-bass. 
contrayerva (kon-tra-yer'va), n. [NL., also 
contrajerva = F. contrayerva = It. contrajerba, 
-fa, < Sp. contrayerba (= Pg. contrahena), lit. 
a counter-herb, antidote, < contra, against, + 
yerba (= Pg. herva), < L. herba, an herb : see 
herb.] An aromatic bitterish root exported 
from tropical America, and used as a stimulant 
and tonic. It is the product of Dorstenia Contrayerva 
and D. BrasUwnxu, plants belonging to the natural order 
Urticaccos. The name is said to be given in Jamaica to 
species of Aristolochia. 
C0ntre 1 t, " t. An obsolete form of counter*. 
C0ntre 2 t, '* An obsolete form of country. 
contre-. [ME. contre-, OF. and F. contre-: see 
counter-.] A form of counter-, either obsolete 
(Middle English) or as modern French (pron. 
kon'tr, F. koii'tr), in some words not natural- 
ized in English. 
contre-cartel6 (kon'tr-kar-te-la'), a. [F.] 
Same as counter-quarterly. 
COntre-COUp (kon'tr-ko), n. [F. : see cpunter- 
and coup*.] In surg., a fracture or an injury re- 
sulting from a blow struck on some other part, 
as a fracture at the base of the skull from a 
blow on the vertex. 
contrectationt (kon-trek-ta'shon), n. [< L. cow- 
trectatio(n-), < contrectare, touch, handle, < co>- 
+ tractare, touch, handle : see treat.] A mutual 
touching or handling. 
The greatest danger of all is in the contrectation and 
touching of their hands. 
Chilmead, tr. of Ferrand's Love and Melancholy (1640), 
[p. 254. 
contre-dance (kon'tr-dans), . [F. contredanse: 
see contra-dance and countrij-4ance.] 1. A 
river received a contributory stream. D'A nuille (trans.). 
gives or pays money or anything 
to a common stock or fund ; one 
common purpose; spe- 
furnishes literary material 
or magazine, or other joint lit- 
erary work. 2f. One who pays tribute ; a trib- 
cdiitribuir = F. contribuer), throw together, . 
unite, contribute^ com-, together, + tribuere, contnbutory(kon-tnb u-to-n),o. and .[< con- 
grant assign, impart: see tribute.] I. trans, tribute + -ory. Cf. contributory.] I. a. 1. Con- 
To give or grant in common with others ; give tributing to the same stock or purpose ; promot- 
to a common stock or for a common purpose ; ^ " m " " H ' *" "*">. to some 
furnish as a share or constituent part of any- 
thing: as, to contribute money to a charity; to 
contribute articles to a magazine. 
England contributes much more than any other of the 
allies. Addison, State of the War. 
It is for each nation to consider how far its institutions 
have reached a state in which they can contribute their 
maximum to the store of human happiness and excel- 
lence. Gladstone, Might of Kight, p. 176. 
The union of the political and military departments in 
Greece contributed not a little to the splendour of its early 
history. Macaulay, Athenian Orators. 
II. intrans. To give or do a part ; lend a por- 
tion of power, aid, or influence ; nave a share 
in any act or effect. 
There is not a single beauty in the piece to which the 
invention must not contribute. Pope, Pref. to Iliad. 
Both the poets you mention have equally contributed to 
introduce a false taste into their respective countries. 
Goldsmith, Vicar, viii. 
contribution (kon-tri-bu'shon), n. [= D. Zon- 
ing the same end ; 
joint enterprise, or increase to some common 
stock. 
The collecting of a most perfect and general library, 
wherein whatsoever the wit of man hath heretofore com- 
mitted to books of worth may be made cotitributory to 
your wisdom. Bacon, in Spedding, I. 335. 
I do not pretend that no one was contributory to a sub- 
sidy who did not possess a vote. Hallam. 
It should not be a ground of offence to any school of 
thinkers, that Darwinism, whilst leaving them free scope, 
cannot be made actually contributory to the support of 
their particular tenets. 
E. R. Lankester, Degeneration, p. 69. 
2f. Paying contribution ; tributary ; subject. 
Tain. Where are your stout contributory Kings? 
Tech. We have their crowns their bodies strew the field. 
Marlowe, Tamburlaine the Great, I., iii. 3. 
Contributory negligence, negligence on the part of a 
person injured, which directly conduced to, or formed part 
of, the immediate cause of the injury. 
II. n. 1. One who or that which contributes. 
Every one of them to be contributories, according to their 
goods and lands, towards the building of the fortresses. 
Strype, Memorials. 
The principal additional contributaries had been the 
nsumption, tea, malt, and spirits. 
,S'. Dim-ell, Taxes in England, II. 364. 
tribntie =G. contribution = ban. Sw. kontribu- 
tion, < F. contribution = Sp. contribution = Pg. 
contribuiyao = It. contribuzione, < LL. contribu- a rticTes'of"ge l ntral 
tio(n-), < L. contribuere, pp. contributus, contrib- 
ute: see contribute.] 1. The act of giving to a 3. In recent Etig. law, one who, by reason of 
common stock, or in common with others ; the being or having been a shareholder in a joint- 
act of promoting or affording aid to a common s tock company, is bound, on the winding up of 
the company, to contribute toward the payment 
of its debts. 
contristt (kon-trisf), ' t. [< F. contri.iter = 
Pr. Sp. Pg. ('iiiiti-istnr = It. coiilristare, < L. COH- 
tristare, make sad, < com-, together, + trMin, 
sad: see trist.] To make sorrowful; sadden. 
In the condition I am in at present, 'twould be as much 
as my life was worth to deject and contrfot myself with so 
sad ii'nd melancholy an account. 
end ; the payment by each of his share of some 
common expense, or the doing by each of his 
part of a common labor. 
So nigh lost in his esteem was the birthright of our Lib- 
erties, that to give them back againe upon demand stood 
at the mercy of his Contribution. Milton, Eikouoklastes, v. 
A cheerful contribtition to those . . . that need our 
charity. Abp. Sharp, Works, I. iii. 
2. That which is given to a common stock or 
done to promote a common end. either by an 
if, Tristram Shandy, iii., Author's Pref. 
