contrariwise

English

Etymology

From Middle English contrary-wyse; equivalent to contrary +‎ -wise.

Pronunciation

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Adjective

contrariwise (not comparable)

1. (literary) In the contrary or opposite way, order, or direction.

Adverb

contrariwise (not comparable)

1. (literary) In the contrary or opposite way, order, or direction.
   • 1891 January 3, I. Gollancz, “Widishins”, in The Academy, London, page 14, column 3:

     If Burd Ellen had gone “widishins" round the church, she would, I think, have used the best homoeopathic specific against the Elf-King's power; for "to go widishins" was the chief element in elfin practices, and if mortals wished to resist or unspell elf-craft, they, too, had "to go widershins," or they had to repeat the Paternoster backwards, which came to the same thing, or do something else contrariwise.

   • 1955, Philip Larkin, “Absences”, in The Less Deceived:

     Rain patters on a sea that tilts and sighs. / Fast-running floors, collapsing into hollows, / Tower suddenly, spray-haired. Contrariwise, / A wave drops like a wall: another follows, / Wilting and scrambling

2. (literary) on the other hand

Alternative forms

• contrawise, contrarywise

Synonyms

• (on the contrary): See also Thesaurus:contrarily

Translations

on the contrary — see on the contrary

on the other hand — see on the other hand

See also

• on the contrary