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View synonyms for

contra

1

[ kon-truh ]

preposition

  1. against; in opposition or contrast to:

    Consider the problems of the teenager contra those of the adult.



adverb

  1. contrariwise; on or to the contrary.

contra-

2
  1. a prefix meaning “against,” “opposite,” “opposing”:

    contradistinction, contraindicate.

contra

3

[ kon-truh; Spanish kawn-trah ]

noun

plural contras
  1. (often initial capital letter) a member of a counterrevolutionary guerrilla group in Nicaragua.

contra-

4
  1. a prefix meaning “pitched lower than” the voice or instrument specified by the following element:

    contralto, contrabassoon.

contra-

prefix

  1. against; contrary; opposing; contrasting

    contraceptive

    contradistinction

  2. (in music) pitched below

    contrabass

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word History and Origins

Origin of contra1

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin DzԳٰ

Origin of contra2

< Late Latin, Latin, prefixal use of adverb and preposition DzԳٰ

Origin of contra3

First recorded in 1980–85; from Central American Spanish, shortening of contrarrevolucionario “cdzܲԳٱ𱹴DZܳپDzԲ”

Origin of contra4

< Italian < Latin; contra- 1( def ), counterpoint
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Word History and Origins

Origin of contra1

from Latin, from DzԳٰ against
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Osha Meserve, a lawyer who signed the letter on behalf of Contra Costa and Solano counties and other local agencies, said the board’s integrity is at stake, as well as public trust and confidence in the process.

From

Perhaps it’s because the public so readily gives a pass to Republicans that we have endured scandals like Iran/Contra and the invasion of Iraq, affairs in which dishonesty and illegality have been conjoined with epic incompetence.

From

In California, the 62 organizations and nonprofit groups that saw cuts include the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, which lost a $155,000 grant for a project to provide food to communities in need in Vallejo, and the Community Water Center, a nonprofit focused on clean drinking water in the San Joaquin Valley, which lost a $20-million grant for an environmental justice program.

From

The San Pablo Police Department, in Contra Costa County, recently notified the community about a blue package labeled “You are being deported” with an image of the American flag in the shape of the United States.

From

Contra Thoreau, they all seem interested less in living life deliberately than deliberately avoiding life.

From

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contr.contraband