contra1

[kon-truh] /ˈkɒn trə/
preposition
1.
against; in opposition or contrast to:
Consider the problems of the teenager contra those of the adult.
adverb
2.
contrariwise; on or to the contrary.
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English < Latin contrā

contra2

[kon-truh; Spanish kawn-trah] /ˈkɒn trə; Spanish ˈkɔn trɑ/
noun, plural contras
[kon-truh z; Spanish kawn-trahs] /ˈkɒn trəz; Spanish ˈkɔn trɑs/ (Show IPA)
1.
(often initial capital letter) a member of a counterrevolutionary guerrilla group in Nicaragua.
Origin
< American Spanish, shortening of contrarrevolucionario counterrevolutionary
Examples from the web for contra
  • Reminds me of another branch of science that is reluctant to accept contra evidence.
  • Exactly the mind set that discourages scientists from investigating contra data.
  • What is wrong is for scientists to manipulate data or hide contra evidence to suit their preferred models.
  • Carbonation is contra-indicated for reinforced and prestressed concrete.
  • contra-cyclical capital requirements would go long way toward damping extremes.
  • However, contra the goldbugs, prices are not set by the rate of inflation.
Word Origin and History for contra

mid-14c., from Latin contra (prep. and adv.) "against," originally "in comparison with," ablative singular feminine of *com-teros, from Old Latin com "with, together" (see com-) + -tr, zero degree of the comparative suffix -ter-.

Contra

n.

1981, "anti-Sandinista Nicaraguan," short for Spanish contrarrevolucionario "counter-revolutionary."