contradict
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English
[edit]Etymology
[edit]Derived from Latin contrādictus (“contradicted”), the past participle of contrādīcō (“speak against”) (originally two words).
Pronunciation
[edit]- (UK) IPA(key): /ˌkɒn.tɹəˈdɪkt/
Audio (Southern England): (file)
- (US, Canada) IPA(key): /ˌkɑn.tɹəˈdɪkt/
- (General Australian) IPA(key): /ˌkɔn.tɹəˈdɪkt/
Verb
[edit]contradict (third-person singular simple present contradicts, present participle contradicting, simple past and past participle contradicted)
- To deny the truth or validity of (a statement or statements).
- His testimony contradicts hers.
- 1651, Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan, London: Andrew Crooke, Chapter 42 “Of Power Ecclesiasticall,” p. 270,[1]
- […] the Ministers of Christ in this world, have no Power by that title, to Punish any man for not Beleeving, or for Contradicting what they say;
- 1813 January 27, [Jane Austen], chapter 23, in Pride and Prejudice: […], volumes (please specify |volume=I to III), London: […] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC:
- Day after day passed away without bringing any other tidings of him than the report which shortly prevailed in Meryton of his coming no more to Netherfield the whole winter; a report which highly incensed Mrs. Bennet, and which she never failed to contradict as a most scandalous falsehood.
- 1959, Robert A. Heinlein, Starship Troopers[2], New York: Ace Books, published 2006, page 97:
- I spent the whole long hike back to camp thinking about that amazing letter. It didn’t sound in the least like anything he had ever said in class. Oh, I don’t mean it contradicted anything he had told us in class; it was just entirely different in tone.
- To oppose (a person) by denying the truth or pertinence of a given statement.
- Everything he says contradicts me.
- c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iii]:
- Dear Duff, I prithee, contradict thyself,
And say it is not so.
- 1753, Samuel Richardson, The History of Sir Charles Grandison[3], London, Volume 5, Letter 17, p. 113:
- […] all these people having deservedly the reputation of good sense, penetration, and so-forth, I cannot contradict them with credit to myself.
- 1915, Virginia Woolf, chapter 15, in The Voyage Out[4], New York: George H. Doran, published 1920, page 199:
- “I always contradict my husband when he says that,” said Mrs. Thornbury sweetly. “You men! Where would you be if it weren’t for the women!”
- To be contrary to (something).
- 1594, Richard Hooker, edited by J[ohn] S[penser], Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, […], 3rd edition, London: […] Will[iam] Stansby [for Matthew Lownes], published 1611, →OCLC, book III, page 118:
- Now no truth can contradict any truth; desirous therefore they were to be taught, how bothe might stand together, that which they knew could not be false, because Christ spake it; and this which to them did seeme true, onely because the Scribes had said it.
- 1760, Laurence Sterne, The Sermons of Mr. Yorick, London: R. & J. Dodsley, Volume 1, Sermon 2, p. 32,[5]
- […] as he is going to a house dedicated to joy and mirth, it was fit he should divest himself of whatever was likely to contradict that intention, or be inconsistent with it.
- c. 1806–1809 (date written), William Wordsworth, “Book the Fifth. The Pastor.”, in The Excursion, being a Portion of The Recluse, a Poem, London: […] Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, […], published 1814, →OCLC, page 231:
- […] True indeed it is
That They whom Death has hidden from our sight
Are worthiest of the Mind’s regard; with these
The future cannot contradict the past:
- 1980, Anthony Burgess, chapter 60, in Earthly Powers, Penguin, published 1981, page 486:
- My persona was mildly liked by television audiences. Its features were recognizable and caricaturable—the cigarette in its Dunhill holder wielded as gracefully as a Queen Anne fan, the Savile Row suitings whose conservative elegance was contradicted by opennecked silk shirts from Kuala Lumpur or by cream polo sweaters […]
- (reflexive) To say things that conflict with each other.
- The prime minister contradicted herself during her speech.
- (obsolete) To give an order contrary to (another order or wish), oppose (something).
- 1613 (date written), William Shakespeare, [John Fletcher], “The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iv]:
- […] when was the hour
I ever contradicted your desire,
Or made it not mine too?
- 1662, Margaret Cavendish, The Matrimonial Trouble, Act II, Scene 21 in Playes written by the thrice noble, illustrious and excellent princess, the Lady Marchioness of Newcastle, London: John Martyn et al., p. 435,[6]
- Lady Sprightly. What had you to do to contradict my commands?
- Doll Subtilty. They were not fit to be obey’d, wherefore they were forbid.
- (obsolete) To give an order contrary to one given by (another person), oppose or resist (someone).
- 1594, Christopher Marlow[e], The Troublesome Raigne and Lamentable Death of Edward the Second, King of England: […], London: […] [Eliot’s Court Press] for Henry Bell, […], published 1622, →OCLC, (please specify the page):
- Beseemes it thee to contradict thy king? […]
I will haue Gaueston, and you shall know,
What danger tis to stand against your king.
- c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iii]:
- A greater power than we can contradict
Hath thwarted our intents.
- (obsolete) To speak against; to forbid.
- 1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC:, New York 2001, p. 203:
- […] magic hath been publicly professed in former times, in Salamanca, Cracovia, and other places, though after censured by several universities, and now generally contradicted, though practised by some still […].
Synonyms
[edit]Related terms
[edit]Translations
[edit]deny the truth of (a statement or statements)
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deny the truth of statements made by (a person)
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to be contrary to
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Categories:
- English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European
- English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *deyḱ-
- English terms borrowed from Latin
- English terms derived from Latin
- English 3-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
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- English lemmas
- English verbs
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