contrā, adv. and prep. [stem con, i. e. cum, through a comparative form conter; cf.: alter, uter, inter, praeter, etc.; in abl. fem. form like the locative adverbs eā, quā, etc.; cf.: ultrā, intrā, extrā, citrā], orig., in comparison with; hence, over against, fronting, in front, opposite, in opposition to, against, contrary to, opposed to, etc.
I Adv. (referring to an opposed object often with the force of a preposition with ellipsis of a pronoun, = against it, against him , etc.).
A Local.
1 Lit., of position in front of a person, place, or thing.
a With verb of being or position expressed or understood.
α Referring to living beings, opposite, in face of, face to face, facing, in front of, fronting, confronting (not in Cic., Caes., or Sall.): feminam scelestam te, adstans contra, contuor, Plaut. Pers. 2, 2, 26: ut confidenter mihi contra adstitit, id. Capt. 3, 5, 6; Lucr. 4, 223; 6, 929: signum contra, quoad longissume oculi ferebant, animo finivit, Liv. 1, 18, 8: stat contra starique jubet, Juv. 3, 290: stat contra dicitque tibi tua pagina Fures! Mart. 1, 55, 12: ulmus erat contra, in front of her , Ov. M. 14, 661: templa vides contra, in front (of us) , id. ib. 7, 587.—Of position in front of the enemy: contra consertā manu, Plaut. Mil. 1, 1, 3: contra consistere, to make front against them, Caes. B. G. 2, 17.—
β Referring to things and places, over against (it), opposite (to it), on the opposite side (mostly post-Aug.): contra jacet Cancer patulam distentus in alvum, Manil. 2, 253: positā contra Hispaniā, Tac. Agr. 11: promuntorium quod contra procedit, Plin. 4, 2, 3, § 6: relinquendae autem contra erunt vacuae tabellae, on the opposite side , i. e. of the leaf, Quint. 10, 3, 32: illo quaerente cur non decidant contra siti, the antipodes (cf. Cic. Ac. 2 ( Luc. ), 39, 123; v. II. A. 1. c. α), Plin. 2, 65, 65, § 161.—With the governing verb understood: arguam hanc vidisse apud te contra conservum meum, face to face , Plaut. Mil. 2, 2, 91: jam omnia contra circaque hostium plena erant, Liv. 5, 37, 8: eadem verba contra (i. e. ponuntur), side by side , Quint. 9, 3, 36; Verg. A. 6, 23.—
b With verbs of motion, so as to be opposite to an object or face to face with a person, variously rendered.
α Referring to persons: accede ad me atque adi contra, come right up to me , Plaut. Rud. 1, 4, 23; id. Bacch. 3, 6, 6: hostes crebri cadunt; nostri contra ingruunt, advance to their front (in Plaut. hostility is not implied in contra), id. Am. 1, 1, 84: quis nos pater aut cognatu' volet contra tueri, face to face, eye to eye , Enn. ap. Varr. L. L. 7, § 12 Müll. (Trag. Rel. v. 444 Rib.); Att. ap. Macr. S. 6, 1, 55 (Trag. Rel. v. 538 ib.): adspicedum contra me = contra adspice me, Plaut. Most. 5, 1, 56 Lorenz ad lec.: contra adspicere, id. Mil. 2, 1, 45: contra intueri, Liv. 1, 16, 6; 9, 6, 8; Sen. Q. N. 1, 3, 6: cum veniret contra Marcianus, Quint. 6, 3, 95; Plin. 9, 46, 70, § 152.—
β Of things: hic ubi sol radiis ... Adversā fulsit nimborum aspergine contra, Lucr. 6, 525; Cels. 8, 8, 1: quam (turrim) promoti contra validi asseres ... perfregere, Tac. H. 4, 30.—Reciprocally: oscula non pervenientia contra, not coming through (the wall) so as to meet , Ov. M. 4, 80.—
2 Transf. to equivalents of weight, value, and price; so,
α In Plaut. only in the colloq. phrases auro contra, aurichalco contra, and contra auro (sc. posito); lit., for gold placed against; cf.: aes contrarium, s. v. contrarius: (servus) non carus'st auro contra, at his weight in gold , Plaut. Ep. 3, 3, 30: jam auro contra constat filius, id. Truc. 2, 6, 57 (Speng. aurichalco): auro contra cedo modestum amatorem! A me aurum accipe. Pa. Cedo mihi contra aurichalco quoi ego sano serviam, id. Curc. 1, 3, 45 sq.; id. Mil. 3, 1, 63; 4, 2, 85; id. Ps. 2, 3, 23.—
β In post-Aug. prose (very rare): at si aquae et ejus rei quam contra pensabis par pondus erit, nec pessum ibit, nec exstabit, etc., Sen. Q. N. 3, 25, 5.—
3 Of reciprocal actions, = vicissim, in turn, in return, back, on my, his, etc., part, likewise, counter-.
α In gen.: te ut deludam contra, lusorem meum, Plaut. Am. 2, 2, 71: quae me amat, quam ego contra amo, id. Merc. 5, 2, 77; id. Cist. 1, 1, 96; id. Trin. 4, 2, 55; id. As. 2, 2, 110: qui arguat se, eum contra vincat jurejurando suo, make a victorious counter-charge , id. Mil. 2, 2, 37: si laudabit haec Illius formam, tu hujus contra (i. e. lauda), Ter. Eun. 444: audi nunc contra jam, listen in turn , id. Phorm. 699; id. Ad. 877: at tu mihi contra nunc videre fortunatus, Phaedria, Cui, etc., you likewise seem fortunate to me , id. Phorm. 173: Mettius Tullo gratulatur, contra Tullus Mettium benigne alloquitur, Liv. 1, 28, 1: contra ut me diligat illa, Cat. 76. 23; Hor. S. 1, 3, 27 Orell. ad loc.—Hence, with ellipsis of inquit, = respondit: cui latrans contra senex, Phaedr. 5, 10, 7: scietis, inquam, etc., contra Nigrinus: ad quem missi sunt? ego, etc., Plin. Ep. 7, 6, 4.— Rarely with inquit, etc., expressed: at ille contra, renidens, Audi, inquit, discipule, etc., Gell. 15, 9, 9; cf.: contra talia reddit, Claud. B. Gild. 379.—
β With dat. pers. : consulo quem dolum doloso contra conservo parem, Plaut. Mil. 2, 2, 45: facere contra huic aegre, Ter. Eun. 624: hiscine contra insidiabere? id. Hec. 70: tibi contra gratiam Referre, id. ib. 583.—
γ With item : item a me contra factum est, Plaut. Aul. prol. 20: puellam senex Amat et item contra filius, id. Cas. prol. 49; id. Pers. 5, 2, 36; id. Am. 1, 1, 67; Ter. Ad. 50.—
δ Combining a reciprocal with a local relation (A. 1. a. α, and b. α): contra carinantes verba, exchanging abusive words ( face to face ), Enn. ap. Serv. ad Verg. A. 8, 361 (Ann. v. 181 Vahl.): tubae utrimque contra canunt; Consonat terra, Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 73; 1, 1, 86: confer gradum Contra pariter, id. Ps. 2, 4, 18; id. Truc. 1, 2, 28: video amicam ... Ubi contra adspexit me, etc., id. Mil. 2, 1, 45; Verg. E. 7, 8; cf. Lucr. 4, 243: vesper adest, juvenes consurgite! ... Cernitis, innuptae, juvenes? consurgite contra! Cat. 62, 6.—
ε Implying also opposition: Pe. Conpellabo. Ph. Orationis aciem contra conferam, Plaut. Ep. 4, 1, 20: si scias quod donum huic dono contra comparet, what counter gift , Ter. Eun. 354: quod Scipio postulavit ... ut, etc. Et quod contra collega postulavit ne, etc., Annal. Trib. Pleb. ap. Gell. 7 (6), 19, 5: si vobis aequa et honesta postulatio videtur, ego contra brevem postulationem adfero, Cic. Rosc. Am. 2, 7; Nep. Epam. 6, 1; Auct. B. Alex. 24: illo licente contra liceri audeat nemo, to bid in opposition , Caes. B. G. 1, 18; Liv. 4, 53, 6: agedum pauca accipe contra, Hor. S. 1, 4, 38.—So in battle: Numidae ... Romanorum ordines conturbare ... neque contra feriundi copia erat, Sall. J. 50, 4; and in law: et ab eo is qui adoptat vindicat ... et illo contra non vindicante, etc., Gai Inst. 1, 134; 2, 24.—Esp. in replies: oratio contra a Demosthene pro Ctesiphonte edita, Cic. de Or. 3, 56, 213: dicit accusator haec: primum, etc. ... quid contra reus? id. Clu. 30, 81; id. Fin. 5, 22, 63; Curt. 4, 1, 10; 7, 9, 1.
B Of opposition, strife, etc., against; constr. absol. , with dat., and ne, quominus or quin.
1 Of physical exertion.
α Lit.: concurrunt ... aetheriae nubes contra pugnantibu' ventis, struggling against each other , Lucr. 6. 98: nec nos obniti contra ... Sufficimus, bear up, battle against , Verg. A. 5, 21; Ov. M. 9, 50; 2, 434: at ille contra nititur, resists , Plin. 2, 38, 38, § 103; 7, 20, 19, § 82: pars remigum, tamquam imperitiā ... officia nautarum impediebant. Mox contra tendere, rowed in an opposite direction , Tac. H. 4, 16.—
β Trop.: te rogo ne contrahas ac demittas animum, neque te obrui tamquam fluctu ... sinas, contraque erigas ac resistas, Cic. Q. Fr. 1, 1, 1, § 4: et torrens judicem vel nitentem contra feret, cogatque ire quā rapiet, Quint. 12, 10, 61.— With ne : vi contra niti, ne advorsus eum fiat, Cato ap. Gell. 7 (6), 3, 16.—With quominus , Lucr. 1, 780.—
2 Of mental exertion: si tibi vera videntur, Dede manus, aut, si falsum est, accingere contra, arm yourself against them , Lucr. 2, 1043; 2, 280. —With dat.: siti contra ... pugnandum, Cels. 4, 2 fin. —
3 Of hostile opposition in gen.
α Lit.: quod animadversum est in eo qui contra omni ratione pugnarunt, non debeo reprehendere, who made opposition in every way , Cic. Rosc. Am. 47, 137; Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 43, § 107: contra etiam aliquid abs te profectum ex multis audivi, something inimical , id. Fam. 5, 5, 2.—
β Trop.: aut alio quovis (sc. colore) qui contra pugnet et obstet, Lucr. 2, 794; 2, 868.—
4 Of warfare.
α Lit.: ut eos adversarios existimemus qui arma contra ferant, Cic. Off. 1, 25, 87; 1, 12, 37; Vell. 2, 28, 4; cf.: quid quod exercitum contra duxit? Auct. Her. 4, 16, 23: ut si quā ex parte obviam contra veniretur, acie instructā depugnarent, if they should be attacked by an open charge , Caes. B. G. 7, 28: issentque confestim ad urbem ni venire contra exercitum ... audissent, Liv. 7, 39, 17: cum Romanae legiones contra direxerint, would oppose their march , Tac. H. 4, 58; id. A. 6, 44.—With dat.: et huic contra itum ad amnem Erinden, Tac. A. 11, 10.—
β Trop.: quod ubi viderunt corvi, contra auxiliantur, velut adversus communem hostem, Plin. 10, 74, 95, § 205.—
5 Of legal contests.
α With verbs of saying; v. 9. a.—
β Venire contra, of any legal act with the intention to hurt the adversary: quid? si omnium mortalium Sthenio nemo inimicior quam hic C. Claudius ... fuit? si de litteris corruptis contra venit, etc.? if he made a charge of forgery against him? Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 43, § 107; cf. II. B. c. β.—
γ On the part of the adversary : inveniendum contra est, quo distet haec causa a ceteris, Quint. 5, 10, 114; 9, 2, 35; 12, 8, 10.—
δ Of judgments against the parties or against opinions: ne spoliaret famā probatum hominem si contra judicasset, given an adverse decision , Cic. Off. 3, 19, 77; cf. Val. Max. 7, 2, 4; Cic. Caecin. 24, 69.—
6 Of literary opposition.
α Mostly with verbs of saying; v. 9. a. γ.—
β With other verbs: astrologorum artem contra convincere tendit, Lucr. 5, 728: contra nunc illud pone, etc., Sen. Ben. 7, 14, 6: habeat (liber meus) etiam quosdam qui contra sentiant et adversentur, some dissentients and opponents , Quint. 3, 1, 5; 2, 17, 40; 3, 8, 69.—
7 Of public and political opposition.
α With verbs of saying; v. 9. a. δ.—
β With petere, to be a candidate for office in opposition to another: nihil enim supererat de quo certarent, nihil quod contra peterent, no office was left for which to canvass against each other , Cic. Agr. 2, 33, 91: honores contra petere, Quint. 6, 1, 17.—With ire, with dat., of an opposing vote in the senate (cf.: pedibus ire): sententia Cassii ut nemo unus contra ire ausus est, ita dissonae voces respondebant, Tac. A. 14, 45.—
8 Of violation of law, contracts, etc.: contra facere, or contra committere, to violate, transgress a law , etc.: leges esse non ex ejus qui contra commiserit utilitate, spectari oportere, not in the interest of the transgressor , Cic. Inv. 2, 48, 153: si quis sub hoc pacto vendiderit ancillam ne prostitueretur, et si contra factum esset, and if the contract was violated , Dig. 18, 1, 56.—
9 With verbs of saying, etc., contra dicere; less freq. disputare, disserere, pugnare, in the sense of dicere, and contra scribere (often contradico , in one word, in post-Aug. writers; esp. with dat.).
a Absol.
α Contra dicere, to speak as counsel of the adversary, to plead his cause , in legal proceedings: cum contra dicturus Hortensius esset, would speak on the other side , Cic. Quint. 24, 77: hoc ... contra dicente Cottā judicatum est, id. Caecin. 33, 97: dixisse ut contra nemo videretur, id. Brut. 53, 198: ut contra Crassus ... exorsus est, began on the other side, id. ib. § 197.—Hence: qui contra dicit, the adversary or counsel of the adversary : contra autem qui dicet, similitudinem infirmare debebit, Cic. Inv. 2, 50, 151; id. Part. Or. 21, 108.—In the same sense: agens contra: si nos ... impares agentium contra ingeniis dixerimus, that we are unequal to the talents of our adversary's counsel , Quint. 4, 1, 8.—
β To make charges against (rare): si qui contra vellet dicere, usurum esse eum suo testimonio, Cic. Clu. 48, 134: quā ratione nemo neque tum item fecerit, neque nunc contra dicat, id. Quint. 29, 88; so, contra disputare, of objections to or against a witness: nihil contra disputabo priusquam dixerit, id. Fl. 21, 51.—
γ In gen., to speak on the other side of a question: fiebat autem ita, ut cum is qui audire vellet dixisset quid sibi videretur, tum ego contra dicerem, Cic. Tusc. 1, 4, 8; id. Fin. 2, 1, 2; so, contra disputare and contra scribere, id. Or. 1, 19, 85; Vitr. 3, 1, 6; Quint. 2, 17, 13; Dig. 9, 2, 21, § 1.—Hence: qui contra dicunt or disputant, the opponents : nec qui contra dicunt causam difficilem repellunt, Cic. Fin. 3, 1, 2: ad coarguendos qui contra disputant, to refule his opponents , Quint. 2, 15, 26.—
δ To oppose or object to a proposition, motion, or petition: quam palam principes dixerunt contra! protested against it , Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 16, § 41; Caes. B. C. 1, 32; Cic. Clu. 47, 130.—With pugnare: cum decerneretur frequenti senatu, contra pugnante Pisone, etc., Cic. Att. 1, 14, 5: filius ejus incolumitatem optat: contradicit pater, the father objects , Quint. 9, 2, 85; 9, 2, 83; Plin. ap. Gell. 9, 16, 5; Cic. Dom. 33, 87: contradicente nullo, Suet. Caes. 20; Dig. 3, 3, 15.—
ε To reply : contradixit edicto, answered by an edict , Suet. Aug. 56. —
ζ Abl. absol. impers. : explorandum videtur an etiam contradicto aliquando judicio consuetudo firmata sit, whether the custom has been confirmed by judgment upon a judicial contest , Dig. 1, 3, 34.—
b With acc. neutr. pron., to object, to make or raise an objection, to reply; esp. in legal proceedings: ego enim, te disputante, quid contra dicerem meditabar, Cic. N. D. 3, 1, 1: ut contra si quid dicere velit non audiatur, id. Fin. 5, 10, 27: aiebat illum primo sane diu multa contra (i. e. dixisse), ad extremum autem, etc., id. Att. 2, 22, 2.— Hence: quod contra dicitur, or quae contra dicuntur, the objections : ut et id quod intenderemus confirmare, et id quod contra diceretur refellere (possemus), refute the objections , Cic. de Or. 1, 20, 90: quia neque reprehendi quae contra dicuntur possunt, etc., id. ib. 2, 81, 331; id. Inv. 2, 44, 127; Quint. 1, 2, 17.—In the same sense, as subst.: contrā dicta, ōrum, n. plur. : seu proposita confirmamus, sive contra dicta dissolvimus, or refute the objections , Quint. 4, prooem. 6.—With acc. and inf.: dicitur contra, nullum esse testamentum, the objection is made that there is no testament , Cic. Agr. 2, 6, 42.—
c With dat., written in one word (post-Aug.).
α To oppose a person by speaking against his views: solitum se etiam Thraseae contradicere, to oppose even Thrasea , Tac. H. 2, 91: tibi, Suet. Aug. 54: Curioni ..., id. Rhet. 1. —Hence of answers and replies in law: quid si filium testatoris heres ejus prohibuit? Huic contradici potest: ergo pietatis, etc., he may be answered by this plea , etc., Dig. 11, 7, 14, § 13.—And of advisory answers opposed to one's legal views: volenti mihi ream adulterii postulare eam, etc., contradictum est, my views were disapproved, rejected , Dig. 48, 5, 11, § 10.—
β To oppose an opinion , with dat. of the thing: cum plures tantum sententiis aliorum contradicerent, opposed the opinions , Tac. H. 1, 39.—
γ To object to a motion or petition , with dat. of the petitioner: patrem qui damnavit optat ne is torqueatur: pater ei contradicit, the father objects , Quint. 9, 2, 81: cum ambienti ut legibus solveretur multi contradicerent, Suet. Caes. 18; Dig. 40, 5, 14; 40, 12, 33.—
δ With dat. of the petition: preces erant, sed quibus contradici non posset, which could not be denied , Tac. H. 4, 46 fin. ; Dig. 3, 1, 1, § 2.—
ε To contest the validity of a law (rare): quibus (legibus) contradici potest, Quint. 7, 7, 4.—
ζ To contradict an assertion (very rare): pro certis autem habemus ... cuicunque adversarius non contradicit, Quint. 5, 10, 13.—
d With quin, to object : praetor Samnitibus respondit ... nec contra dici quin amicitia de integro reconcilietur, there was no objection to a reconciliation , Liv. 8, 2, 2.
C To one's disadvantage; mostly predic . with esse, unfavorable, adverse, damaging (post-Aug.; but cf. II. B. 2.): ut eum qui responsurus est vel tacere, vel etiam invitum id quod sit contra cogat fateri, Quint. 7, 3, 14: cum verba (legis) contra sint, id. 7, 1, 49: sed experimentum contra fuit, unsuccessful , Tac. H. 2, 97 fin. : ubi fortuna contra fuit, id. ib. 3, 18: si fortuna contra daret, should be unfavorable , id. ib. 1, 65 fin. ; id. A. 15, 13.
D Of logical opposition, with negative force.
1 Of a direct contrast.
a Predicatively, with esse, fieri, etc., the contrary, the opposite : quod fieri totum contra manifesta docet res, but experience teaches that just the contrary is true , Lucr. 3, 686; 4, 1088: in stultitiā contra est, with fools the reverse is true , Cic. Clu. 31, 84: in hac quidem re vereor ne etiam contra (i. e. sit), id. Att. 12, 46; id. Off. 1, 15, 49: quod contra est, Sall. J. 85, 21: quis non credat, etc.? Contra autem est, Sen. Q. N. 3, 25, 12; id. Ep. 7, 3; Dig. 37, 4, 4: contra fore si, etc., ib. 34, 2, 39, § 2: immo forsitan et contra (i. e. erit), ib. 41, 3, 49: ego contra puto (i. e. esse), Plin. Ep. 1, 20, 7; Lampr. Alex. Sev. 25.—
b With evenire, accidere, sentire, scribere, habere, etc.: utrumque contra accidit: istic enim bellum est exortum, hic pax consecuta, of both the contrary has happened , Cic. Fam. 12, 18, 2; so Dig. 38, 2, 51: id ego contra puto (sc.: faciendum esse), id. Att. 10, 8, 2: contra evenit in iis morbis, Sen. Ep. 52, 7; Plin. 2, 65, 65, § 163: ego contra sentio, Sen. Clem. 1, 15, 5; Sedig. ap. Gell. 15, 24, 4; Dig. 40, 2, 25: Proculus contra (sc. sentit), ib. 35, 2, 1, § 14; 33, 7, 25: licet Celsus contra scribat, ib. 9, 2, 21, § 1: contra probatur, Gai Inst. 2, 78; Dig. 33, 7, 12, § 34.—Very rarely referring to a term in the same clause: cujus disparem mitioremque naturam contra interpretabatur, interpreted in an opposite sense, misinterpreted, misunderstood , Tac. H. 4, 86 fin. —
c Referring to a word or phrase in the same predicate.
α To an adverb, in an opposite manner, otherwise, differently, not , etc.: nam ad summam totius rei pertinet, caute an contra demonstrata res sit, Cic. de Or. 2, 81, 330: quod viriliter animoque fit, id, etc.; quod contra, id turpe, id. Off. 1, 27, 94: sit sapienter usus aut contra, Quint. 2, 5, 15: lactuca locis apricis optume autumno ponitur, mediterraneis aut frigidis contra ( = pessime), Col. 11, 3, 25.—
β To a predicative adjective, not, the opposite, the reverse , etc.: ut aliae (res) probabiles videantur aliae contra, improbable , Cic. Ac. 2 ( Luc. ), 32, 103; id. Off. 2, 2, 7: quid est quod me impediat ea quae probabilia mihi videantur sequi, quae contra, improbare, id. ib. 2, 2, 8; id. Or. 2, 31, 135; Quint. 4, 2, 52.—
γ To a verbal predicate: an frater fratri exsistat heres, an contra ( = annon), Dig. 34, 5, 19.—
δ To a subject infinitive: laudare testem vel contra pertinet ad momentum judiciorum, praising or censuring a witness , Quint. 3, 7, 2.—
ε To a clause, translated by not or by a repetition of the clause with a negative: quae secundum naturam essent, ea sumenda et quādam aestimatione dignanda docebat, contraque contraria, those that were not, not , Cic. Ac. 1, 10, 36: quod cuidam aut sapiens videor quod una non jerim, aut felix fuisse; mihi contra, id. Att. 9, 12, 4: an credibile est, incestum cum filiā commissum? Et contra, veneficum in novercā, adulterum in luxurioso? and incredible , etc., Quint. 5, 10, 19; so Dig. 9, 1, 2, § 1.—
ζ To an attributive genitive: Marius cognoscere quid boni utrisque or contra esset (i. e. mali), Sall. J. 88, 2: verum de origine laudis contraque perspiciemus suo tempore (i. e. vituperationis), Quint. 2, 4, 21: alii a propositione accusatoris contraque loci oriuntur, the accuser and the accused , id. 7, 2, 31; so in several titles of the Digests, as Depositi vel contra, = actio depositi, vel contraria actio depositarii, Dig. 16, 3 tit.; so ib. 16, 17, 1; 16, 13, 6; 16, 13, 7.—
2 Reversing the relation of terms in the preceding sentence, the reverse, conversely, vice versā , etc.
a With its own predicate: saepe ... corpus aegret, Cum tamen ex aliā laetamur parte latenti; Et retro fit uti contra sit saepe vicissim, Cum miser ex animo laetatur corpore toto, Lucr. 3, 108: illa altera argumentatio, quasi retro et contra, prius sumit, etc., ( proceeding ), so to speak, backward and in inverted order , Cic. Part. Or. 13, 46: neque illud ignoro, etc.; sed non idem accidit contra, but the converse is not true , Quint. 8, 6, 3; Gell. 4, 2, 5: ut vocabula verbis, verba rursus adverbiis, nomina appositis et pronominibus essent priora. Nam fit contra quoque frequenter non indecore. for often, not inelegantly, the order is reversed , Quint. 9, 4, 24: quae etiam contra valent, i. e. if the terms are reversed , id. 3, 7, 25; 9, 2, 49; 8, 6, 25; 9, 4, 72.—
b Belonging to the same predicate: ut quidque erit dicendum ita dicet, nec satura jejune, nec grandia minute, nec item contra, Cic. Or. 36, 123: cum emtor venditori, vel contra, heres exstitit, Dig. 35, 2, 48: in quibus patrium pro possessivo dicitur, vel contra, Quint. 1, 5, 45; 5, 10, 71: junguntur autem aut ex nostro et peregrino, ut biclinium, aut contra, ut epitogium et Anticato, id. 1, 5, 68: ut capras in montosis potius locis quam in herbidis (pascar), equas contra, but with mares the reverse is the case , Varr. R. R. 2, 1, 16: itaque ille dicere melius quam praecipere, nos contra fortasse possumus, Cic. Or. 42, 143: qua collegi solent ex his quae faciunt ea quae faciuntur, aut contra, or vice versā , Quint. 5, 10, 80; Dig. 14, 1, 1, § 12; 48, 5, 23, § 4.
E In logical antithesis of clauses with a merely rhet. force, on the contrary, on the other hand, vice versā; sometimes almost = sed or autem (freq.).
1 In independent clauses.
a Opposing persons or parties: fortunam insanam esse ... perhibent philosophi ... Sunt autem alii philosophi qui contra Fortunam negant ullam exstare, Pac. ap. Auct. Her. 2, 23, 36 (Trag. Rel. v. 372 Rib.); Caecil. ap. Cic. Tusc. 4, 32, 68; Varr. R. R. 1, 8, 1: ego etiam quae tu sine Verre commisisti Verri crimini daturus sum ... Tu, contra, ne quae ille quidem fecit, obicies, Cic. Div. in Caecil. 11, 35: ego contra ostendo, non modo nihil fecisse Sex. Roscium, sed, etc., id. Rosc. Am. 29, 79; id. Phil. 8, 3, 8; id. Off. 1, 30, 108; id. Fin. 5, 22, 62: in Italiā bellum gerimus, in sede ac solo nostro ... Hannibal contra in alienā, in hostili est terrā, Liv. 22, 39, 13; 21, 50, 2; 3, 15, 2; 6, 7, 4; 9, 35, 4 et saep.; Nep. Alcib. 8, 1; Vell. 2, 31, 4; Sen. Ep. 9, 14; id. Ira, 2, 33, 6; Plin. 35, 10, 37, § 113; Tac. H. 3, 84; 3, 57; Suet. Tib. 2; id. Vit. 2; Just. 2, 1, 10; 8, 4, 11: contra mercator, navim jactantibus austris Militia est potior? Hor. S. 1, 1, 6; 1, 2, 30; 1, 3, 27; Prop. 2, 1, 45; 2, 23, 13 (3, 17, 3); Sen. Hippol. 214; so with versā vice: barbarae gentes (Alexandrum) non ut hostem, sed ut parentem luxerunt ... Contra Macedones versā vice non ut civem, sed ut hostem amissum gaudebant, Just. 13, 1, 7.—
b Introducing a secondary or parallel opposition of thought: in loco umidiore far potius serunt quam triticum; contra in aridiore hordeum potius quam far, Varr. R. R. 1, 9, 4; 1, 1, 47: si nihil esset quod inane vocaret, Omne foret solidum; nisi contra corpora certe Essent, etc., Omne quod est spatium vacuum constaret inane, Lucr. 1, 521; 4, 348; cf.: justa omnia decora sunt, injusta contra, ut turpia, sic indecora, Cic. Off. 1, 27, 94; id. N. D. 2, 15, 41; id. de Or. 3, 33, 136; id. Quint. 30, 93: id. Off. 3, 21, 84; id. Leg. 2, 1, 2: facilem esse rem ... si modo unum omnes sentiant; contra in dissensione nullam se salutem perspicere, Caes. B. G, 5, 31; Liv. 25, 30, 3; Sen. Ben. 1, 5, 2; Plin. 12, 19, 42, § 92; 11, 14, 14, § 35; Suet. Caes. 73; Gell. 1, 4, 5: si male rem gerere insani est, contra bene, sani, Hor. S. 2, 3, 74.—
2 In opposition to a dependent clause: ut hi miseri, sic contra illi beati quos, etc., Cic. Tusc. 5, 6, 16; so id. de Or. 1, 45, 198; Quint. 9, 3, 39: cui ego rei tantum abest ut impedimento sim, ut contra te M. Manli adhorter, etc., Liv. 6, 15, 5; 6, 31, 4: cum virtus adeo neminem spe ac pollicitatione corrumpat, ut contra in se inpendere jubeat, ac, etc., Sen. Ben. 4, 1, 2: aut igitur negemus quidquam ratione confici, cum contra nihil sine ratione recte fieri possit, aut, etc., whereas on the contrary , etc., Cic. Tusc. 4, 38, 84; cf.: at contra, Lucr. 2, 392.—
3 With co-ordinate conjunctions.
a Copulative, et contra or contraque (never with ac or atque); also nec contra (rare), and on the other hand .
α With reference to a reason or conclusion, after nam, enim, cum , or itaque : nam et ratione uti ... omnique in re quid sit veri videre et tueri decet, contraque falli ... tam dedecet quam, etc., Cic. Off. 1, 27, 94: malus est enim custos ... metus, contraque benevolentia fidelis, id. ib. 2, 7, 23: cum reficiat animos varietas ipsa, contraque sit aliquanto difficilius in labore uno perseverare, Quint. 1, 12, 4; 3, 8, 32; 8, 6, 20: itaque in probris maxime in promptu est, si quid tale dici potest, etc. Contraque in laudibus, etc., Cic. Off. 1, 18, 61; cf. Suet. Calig. 51; so with nec : nam nec comoedia cothurnis assurgit, nec contra tragoedia socculo ingreditur, Quint. 10, 2, 22.—
β With contrasted examples or illustrations, often after ut or sic : audivi ex majoribus natu, hoc idem fuisse in P. Scipione Nasicā, contraque patrem ejus ... nullam comitatem habuisse sermonis, Cic. Off. 1, 30, 109: ut suspitionibus credi oportere, et contra suspitionibus credi non oportere, id. Inv. 2, 15, 48; Quint. 8, 4, 1; 5, 10, 48; 9, 3, 7; 9, 4, 52; 11, 1, 14; Sen. Ep. 82, 14; Dig. 17, 1, 22, § 4.—
γ With contrasted actions, assumptions, etc.: atque utinam qui ubique sunt propugnatores hujus imperii possent in hanc civitatem venire, et contra oppugnatores rei publicae de civitate exterminari! Cic. Balb. 22, 51: domo pignori datā, et area ejus tenebitur ... et contra jus soli sequitur aedificium, Dig. 13, 7, 21: equo et asinā genitos mares, hinnos antiqui vocabant: contraque mulos quos asini et equae generassent, Plin. 8, 44, 69, § 17: ceterum potest ex lege quidem esse judicium, sed legitimum non esse, et contra ex lege non esse, sed legitimum esse, Gai Inst. 4, 109; Plin. 2, 65, 65, § 161; 35, 15, 5, § 183.—
δ After a negative clause, affirming the opposite idea, et contra or contraque, but on the contrary : in quo (consulatu) ego imperavi nihil, et contra patribus conscriptis et bonis omnibus parui, Cic. Sull. 7, 21: nunc vero cum ne pulsus quidem ita sim ut superare non possim, contraque a populo Romano semper sim defensus, etc., id. Dom. 33, 88; id. Fin. 2, 17, 55; id. Marcell. 6, 20; so, et contra, Suet. Tit. 7.—
b With adversative conjunctions, at contra, sed contra, contra autem, contra vero (not verum contra, nor contra tamen).
α At contra (freq.), merely a strengthened contra (v. 1. supra): huc accedit uti mellis lactisque liquores Jucundo sensu linguae tractentur in ore; At contra taetri absinthi natura ... foedo pertorqueat ora sapore, Lucr. 2, 400: cogunt, id. 2, 74; 1, 366; 2, 235 et saep.: nos qui domi sumus, tibi beati videmur; at contra nobis tu quidem ... prae nobis beatus, Cic. Fam. 4, 4, 2; id. Tusc. 1, 3, 5; id. Rosc. Am. 45, 131; id. Verr. 2, 5, 26, § 66; Sall. J. 36, 2; 4, 7; 15, 3; id. C. 12, 5: ideo siccas aiunt Aethiopiae solitudines ... At contra constat Germaniam abundare rivis, Sen. Q. N. 3, 6, 2; 1, 3, 1; id. Ep. 100, 7; Plin. 7, 53, 54, § 186; Suet. Galb. 15; Tac. A. 4, 28.—
β Sed contra, after a negative sentence (class.): non quo acui ingenia adulescentium nollem, sed contra ingenia obtundi nolui, Cic. de Or. 3, 24, 93; id. Att. 9, 15, 3; id. Ac. 1, 10, 35; id. Fl. 11, 26: arma populi Romani non liberis servitutem, sed contra servientibus libertatem adferre, Liv. 45, 18, 1: tu ne cede malis, sed contra audentior ito, Verg. A. 6, 95; Plin. Ep. 1, 10, 12.—PostAug. also without a preceding negation: obiisse nostro Laium scelere autumant superi inferique: sed animus contra innocens ... negat, Sen. Oedip. 765; Symm. Ep. 6, 81.—
γ Contra autem (rare; in Cic. only where different subjects have contrasted predicates in dependent clauses): quia pacis est insigne toga, contra autem arma tumultus atque belli, Cic. Pis. 30, 73.—In later writers = contra alone: sub septemtrione aedificia ... conversa ad calidas partes oportere fieri videntur. Contra autem sub impetu solis meridiani regionibus conversa ad septemtrionem ... sunt facienda, Vitr. 6, 1, 2; Gell. 14, 2, 19; Dig. 7, 1, 25, § 3; 34, 3, 25.—
δ Contra vero (very rare; not in Cic.), used for contra: contra vero quercus infinitam habet aeternitatem, Vitr. 2, 9, 8; 6, 1, 3; Cels. 3, 6 fin. —
ε Atqui contra, Ap. Mag. p. 287, 24.—
c With disjunctive conjunctions, aut contra, vel contra, seu contra, or on the contrary, or conversely (always without change of subject).
α Aut contra: num aut scriptum neget, aut contra factum infitietur? Cic. Part. Or. 38, 133: quae (mens) aut languescit ... aut contra tumescit, etc., Quint. 1, 2, 18: si imbres defuere, aut contra abundavere, Plin. 17, 24, 37, § 228.—
β Vel contra: hinc enim quaestiones oriuntur: Injuriam fecisti, sed quia magistratus, majestatis actio est? Vel contra: Licuit ... quia magistratus? Quint. 5, 10, 40; 9, 4, 96; Suet. Galb. 3; Dig. 35, 2, 56, § 4; 8, 4, 6.—
γ Seu contra: seu tristis veniam, seu contra laetus amicis, Prop. 1, 11, 25.—
d With causal conjunctions, nam contra (very rare; never contra enim): falso queritur de naturā suā genus humanum quod, etc. Nam contra, reputando, neque majus aliud, neque praestabilius invenies, Sall. J. 1, 1; Quint. 1, 1, 1; 9, 2, 23. —
4 In late Lat., e contra (also one word, ēcontrā ) = contra,
α In the meaning, the contrary (D. 1.): aliis vero econtra videtur, Hier. Ep. 12.—
β Et econtra = et contra (E. 3. a.): honestiorum provectu et econtra suppliciis, Aur. Vict. Caes. 39, 45.—For quod contra, v. II. E. 1. c.—
5 With emphatic particles.
a Quin contra, nay on the contrary , opposing an affirmative sentence to a preceding negative statement (quin etiam amplifies without opposition; sed contra opposes without amplification; quin contra both opposes and amplifies); not before Livy: num qui enim socordius rempublicam administrari post Calvi tribunatum ... quam? etc. Quin contra patricios aliquot damnatos ... neminem plebeium, Liv. 6, 37, 8; 31, 31, 9; 35, 26, 10; 37, 15, 3.—
b Immo contra (post-Aug.).
α = no, on the contrary , refuting opinions, after questions and in the form of a dialogue: existimas nunc me detrahere tibi multas voluptates? ... Immo contra, nolo tibi umquam deesse laetitiam, Sen. Ep. 23, 3; Dig. 33, 7, 5; 33, 7, 29.—
β = sed contra, but on the contrary : proinde ne submiseris te, immo contra fige stabilem gradum, Sen. Cons. Marc. 5, 6; id. Cons. Polyb. 15, 2; cf. prep.: immo contra ea, Liv. 41, 24, 8; cf. II. E. 1. b. infra.—
c Item contra = an emphatic et contra (very rare): quoniam ... beate vivere alii in alio, vos in voluptate ponitis, item contra miseriam in dolore, etc., Cic. Fin. 2, 27, 86; cf. I. A. 3. γ supra.
F With a comparative clause introduced by ac, atque, or quam, representing a logical or moral opposition (contra atque debuit = non ita ut debuit; cf. Cic. Or. 3, 19, 70); cf. prep., II. C. 3. γ, and II. E. 2. infra.
1 Of logical opposition, contrary to, different from, otherwise than; in the best prose only with atque or ac.
α With atque : item, contra atque apud nos, fieri ad Elephantinem ut neque ficus neque vites amittant folia, Varr. R. R. 1, 7, 6: simulacrum Jovis, contra atque ante fuerat, ad orientem convertere, Cic. Cat. 3, 8, 20; id. Sull. 24, 69: judicium suscepturos contra atque omnis Italia populusque Romanus judicavisset, Caes. B. C. 3, 12; id. B. G. 4, 13; Plin. 12, 19, 43, § 95.—
β With ac : itaque contra est ac dicitis, Cic. Fin. 4, 15, 41: vides, omnia fere contra ac dicta sint evenisse, id. Div. 2, 24, 53; so id. Verr. 2, 4, 6, § 11; id. Or. 40, 137: cum contra ac Deiotarus sensit victoria belli judicaret, id. Phil. 11, 13, 34: Petreius ubi videt, Catilinam, contra ac ratus erat, magnā vi tendere, etc., Sall. C. 60, 5.—
γ With ac and atque : si denique aliquid non contra ac liceret factum diceretur, sed contra atque oporteret, Cic. Balb. 3, 7.—
δ With quam (post-Aug.): cui contra quam proposuerat aliqua cesserunt, Sen. Ira, 3, 6, 5; Plin. 10, 53, 74, § 149; 11, 21, 24, § 72; Gell. 6 (7), 8, 6: contra quam licet, id. 1, 3, 19; Sil. 15, 107.—
2 Of moral opposition of acts contrary to rules and principles (cf. II. 3. γ infra); so always with quam : mater Aviti, generi sui, contra quam fas erat, amore capta, contrary to the divine law , Cic. Clu. 5, 12: ut senatus, contra quam ipse censuisset, ad vestitum rediret, contrary to its own resolution , id. Pis. 8, 18: contra quam ista causa postulasset, id. Caecin. 24, 67: contra quam sanctum legibus est, Liv. 30, 19, 9; Cic. Leg. 2, 5, 11; id. Q. Fr. 1, 1, 1, § 2; id. Dom. 46, 122: contraque faciunt quam polliceri videntur, Auct. Her. 4, 3, 6; Cic. de Or. 2, 20, 86.
II Prep. with acc., before, against, facing, towards, opposite to, contrary to (acc. to many scholars not ante-class.; cf. Hand, Turs. II. p. 108; but found Plaut. Ps. 1, 2, 24 Fleck., a line omitted by Lorenz as a gloss; id. Pers. 1, 1, 13 Ritschl; Att. ap. Non. p. 469, 15, or Trag. Rel. v. 476 Rib.; cf. also Plaut. Poen. 5, 6, 18; Cato R. R. 18, 1, and v. I. A. 1. a. β, and I. A. 1. b. α supra).
A Local uses.
1 Opposite, over against, facing .
a Of countries and places (mostly of those separated by water; adversus and e regione mostly of places opposite by land): insulae natura triquetra, cujus unum latus est contra Galliam, Caes. B. G. 5, 13; 3, 9; 4, 20: ad insulam quae est contra Massiliam, id. B. C. 1, 56; 3, 23: Rhodios, pacatis contra insulam suam terris, etc., Liv. 37, 15, 7; 3, 26, 8: Carthago Italiam contra, Verg. A. 1, 13; 5, 124; Ov. M. 14, 17: insulae quae contra Tauri promuntorium inopportune navigantibus objacent, Chelidoniae nominantur, Mel. 2, 7; Plin. 3, 26, 30, § 151; 6, 28, 32, § 152; 5, 7, 7, § 41; Tac. A. 3, 1; id. H. 2, 17.—
b Of the heavenly bodies: donique (luna) eum (sc. solem) contra pleno bene lumine fulsit, Lucr. 5, 708: contra Volucris rostrum posita est Lyra, Vitr. 9, 4, 5; Sen. Q. N. 1, 5, 9; 1, 8, 3; Plin. 2, 31, 31, § 99; 5, 10, 10, § 56.—So, tertium (latus Britanniae) est contra septem triones, opposite ( facing ); hence, contra meridiem and contra ortus (instead of ad or adversus meridiem, etc.), facing the south and east , Plin. 6, 24, 24, § 85; 17, 2, 2, § 22. —So of a person standing in the sunlight: cum minima umbra (i. e. a sole) contra medium fiet hominem, Plin. 18, 33, 76, § 327; cf.: contra mediam faciem meridies erit, id. 18, 33, 76, § 326.—
c Of opposite ends of a line.
α Of the diameter of the earth: esse e regione nobis e contrariā parte terrae qui adversis vestigiis stent contra nostra vestigia, quos ἀντίποδας vocatis, Cic. Ac. 2 ( Luc. ), 39, 123.—
β Of a line drawn: contra autem E littera I erit ubi secat circinationem linea, opposite the point E will be the letter I , Vitr. 9, 7, 4.—
d Of buildings, etc.: contra hoc aviarium est aliud minus in quo quae mortuae sunt aves curator servare solet, Varr. R. R. 3, 5, 5; Vitr. 5, 6, 3; 3, 5, 15: (statuam) quae fuerit contra Jovis Statoris aedem in vestibulo Superbi domus, Plin. 34, 6, 13, § 29: contra medium fere porticum diaeta paulum recedit, Plin. Ep. 5, 6, 20; 2, 17, 5; Suet. Aug. 44.—
e Of places on the human body: id quod contra stomachum est, Cels. 4, 5 (4, 12 med. ); 7, 7; 4, 20 (13).—Of the direction of the intestines, etc.: ea ... contra medium alvum orsa, Cels. 4, 1 fin. —
2 Of actions, opposite, towards, against, facing (syn.: adversus, ad, e regione, Caes. B. G. 7, 61).
a In gen.: quamvis subito ... quamque Rem contra speculum ponas, apparet imago, Lucr. 4, 156: Democritus ... clipeum constituit contra exortum Hyperionis, Laber. ap. Gell. 10, 17, 4: et contra magnum potes hos (i.e. oculos) attollere solem, Nec tremis ...? Prop. 1, 15, 37; Col. 7, 3, 8: rex constiterat contra pedites, Curt. 10, 9, 13; 9, 5, 1: ne contra septentrionem paveris, Plin. 18, 33, 76, § 330; 28, 6, 19, § 69: contra solem varie refulgens, placed in the sun , id. 37, 10, 63, § 173; 10, 54, 75, § 151; 37, 6, 22, § 83; 37, 7, 25, § 95: cum terrestres volucres contra aquam clangores dabunt, id. 18, 35, 87, § 363; 19, 8, 39, § 131.—
b Dependent on verbs of motion (very rare without the idea of hostility): (Dinocrates) incessit contra tribunal regis jus dicentis, towards , Vitr. 2, praef. 1.—So trop., of actions done for a purpose: lege Corneliā de sicariis tenetur qui, cum in magistratu esset, eorum quid fecerit contra hominis necem quod legibus permissum non sit, Dig. 48, 8, 4.—
c Appositively, with the predicate: (elephanti) tanta narratur clementia contra minus validos, ut, etc., if fronting weaker animals, if brought in contact with them (not to be connected with clementia), Plin. 8, 7, 7, § 23.—Similarly: dum ... fidens non est contra feram, if fronting the animal (not dependent on fidens), Plin. 8, 16, 21, § 57.—
d Against an opposing action, etc.: contra vim atque impetum fluminis conversa, Caes. B. G. 4, 17, 5: cum plateae contra directos ventos erunt conformatae, Vitr. 1, 6, 8: ut contra ventum gregem pascamus, Col. 7, 3, 12; Sen. Q. N. 2, 31, 2; Plin. 29, 3, 12, § 52; 17, 2, 2, § 21; 8, 16, 21, § 54: contra fluminum impetus aggeribus, id. 35, 14, 48, § 169: capite in sole contra pilum peruncto, id. 27, 4, 5, § 17; 18, 35, 88, § 364; Varr. ap. Plin. 7, 20, 19, § 83; Sil. 14, 352; Dig. 9, 2, 29, § 4. —Trop.: contra fortunam tenendus est cursus, Sen. Prov. 5, 9.—Prov.: contra stimulum calces, kick against the pricks , Isid. Orig. 1, 36, 28 (al. calcitres); cf. Amm. 18, 5, 1.—
e Of local actions with hostile intent.
α Lit.: quae vis Coclitem contra omnes hostium copias tenuit? Cic. Par. 1, 2, 12: Pompeium Cartejae receptum scribis: jam igitur contra hunc exercitum (sc. constitit), id. Att. 15, 20, 3: pertimescam, credo, ne mihi non liceat contra vos in contione consistere, to face you , id. Agr. 1, 8, 25; Lepidus ap. Cic. Fam. 10, 34, 1; Caes. B. C. 1, 26: a fronte contra hostem pedum quindecim fossam fieri jussit, id. ib. 1, 41; 1, 42; id. B. G. 7, 62: Tullus adversus Veientem hostem derigit suos: Albanos contra legionem Fidenatium collocat, Liv. 1, 27, 5; 24, 41, 5; 38, 4, 5; Verg. A. 12, 279; Front. Strat. 2, 2, 13; 2, 3, 17.—Appositively, with a local verb understood: terribilis haec contra fugientes belua est, fugax contra insequentes, i. e. if fronting, if placed opposite , Plin. 8, 25, 38, § 92.—
β Trop.: castra sunt in Italiā contra populum Romanum in Etruriae faucibus collocata, Cic. Cat. 1, 2, 5; id. Mil. 1, 2; Quint. 7, 7, 5: tum contra hanc Romam illa altera Roma quaeretur, will be as a rival against this Rome , Cic. Agr. 2, 22, 86: cui rationi contra homines barbaros atque imperitos locus fuisset, hac ne ipsum quidem sperare, etc., Caes. B. G. 1, 40: (Cicero) plerumque contra inimicos atque obtrectatores plus vindicat sibi, when fronting adversaries , Quint. 11, 1, 23.—
f In partic.
α Stare contra aliquem (opp. stare ab aliquo); usu. implying hostility; mostly trop., to stand against, to be arrayed against, to face, oppose : quod contra hoc exemplum nulla staret eorum ratio, Auct. Her. 4, 5, 7: contra populi studium, Cic. Brut. 34, 126: contra civium perditorum ... dementiam a senatu et a bonorum causā, id. ib. 79, 273; so, a mendacio contra veritatem, id. Inv. 1, 3, 4: contra cives in acie, id. Att. 16, 11, 2: et adversi contra stetit ora juvenci, opposite , Verg. A. 5, 477; 5, 414: haec enim (ratio) sola ... stat contra fortunam, Sen. Ep. 14, 4, 2: contra leonem etiam stetit, fronted , i. e. hunted , Spart. Carac. 5 fin. —
β Contra aliquem ire: aut saevos Libyae contra ire leones, Stat. Th. 9, 16.—Trop.: uti contra injurias armati eatis, Sall. J. 31, 6: interritus (sapiens) et contra illa (mala) ibit et inter illa, Sen. Ep. 59, 8; cf.: contra venire, II. B. 1. c. β infra, and v. also II. B. 2. b. and II. B. 1. b. infra.—
3 Transf.,
a To persons placed together for comparison: C. vero Caesar, si foro tantum vacasset, non alius ex nostris contra Ciceronem nominaretur, Quint. 10, 1, 114: CORONATO CONTRA OMNES SCAENICOS, Inscr. Grut. p. 331, n. 4.—
b To things compared, as if weighed against each other as to their value, strength, etc.
α Lit. (very rare): quamcunque vis rem expende, et contra aquam statue ... Si gravior est, leviorem rem ... feret, etc., Sen. Q. N. 3, 25, 5.—
β Prop.: cujus (i. e. generis humani) causā videtur cuncta alia genuisse natura, magnā saevā mercede contra tanta sua munera, Plin. 7, 1, 1, § 1: qui amicus esse coepit quia expedit, placebit ei aliquod pretium contra amicitiam, Sen. Ep. 9, 9: numquam ulli fortiores cives fuerunt quam qui ausi sunt eum contra tantas opes ejus ... condemnare, Cic. Fam. 7, 2, 3: tantum studium bonorum in me exstitisse, contra incredibilem contentionem clarissimi et potentissimi viri, id. ib. 7, 2, 2; Planc. ap. Cic. Fam. 10, 9, 3: nomen prorogans nostrum et memoriam extendens contra brevitatem aevi, as a compensation for , Plin. 2, 63, 63, § 154.—So esp., valere contra, to weigh against, counterbalance, avail or prevail against : non vereor ne meae vitae modestia parum valitura sit contra falsos rumores, Matius ap. Cic. Fam. 11, 28, 8: (illa facta) pro periculo potius quam contra salutem valere debere, Cic. Part. Or. 35, 120; id. Off. 3, 29, 104: contrane lucrum nil valere Pauperis ingenium? Hor. Epod. 11, 11; Sen. Ben. 4, 15, 1; id. Cons. Helv. 5, 5; so, robur habere contra: si contra unamquamlibet partem fortunae satis tibi roboris est, id. ib. 13, 2; so of counterchecks: in Cretā decem qui cosmoe vocantur, ut contra consulare imperium tribuni plebis, sic illi contra vim regiam constituti, Cic. Rep. 2, 33, 58.—Of antidotes: cimicum natura contra serpentium morsus valere dicitur, item contra venena omnia, Plin. 29, 4, 17, § 61.—Hence,
c Colloq., aliquid contra aurum est, something is worth gold, is superb , both predicatively and attributively (cf.: auro contra, I. A. 2. supra): hujusce pomaria in summā Sacrā Viā ubi poma veneunt, contra aurum imago, a spectacle for gold , i. e. a magnificent sight , Varr. R. R. 1, 2, 10 MSS. (al. aliter): numcubi hic vides citrum ... num quod emblema aut lithostratum? quae illic omnia contra aurum, superb , id. ib. 3, 2, 4 MSS. (Schneid. omits aurum, ex conj.): oneravi vinum, et tunc erat contra aurum, Petr. 7, 6.—
d Transf., of replies, with aiebat, inquit, etc.; both in friendly and inimical sense; esp., contra ea, contra haec, = the adv. contra: contra ea Titurius sero facturos clamitabat, etc., Caes. B. G. 5, 29: contra ea Verginius unum Ap. Claudium et legum expertem et, etc., aiebat, Liv. 3, 57, 1; 24, 45, 4: quae contra breviter fata est vates, Verg. A. 6, 398: contra quod disertus Tu impie fecisti inquit, etc., Quint. 7, 1, 53 (cf.: contra ea, II. E. 1. infra).
B Denoting hostility or disadvantage.
1 With verbs of hostile action.
a Of physical exertion: pugnavere et tertio consulatu ejus viginti (elephanti) contra pedites quingentos, Plin. 8, 7, 7, § 22: proelium Afri contra Aegyptios primi fecere fustibus, id. 7, 56, 57, § 200; 8, 40, 61, § 142. —
b Referring to warfare (usu. adversus), bellum gerere (rarely for cum or adversus; but contra patriam, contra aras, etc., not cum patriā, etc.; cf. bellum, II. A. 1. e.): a quo prohibitos esse vos contra Caesarem gerere bellum (opp. pro), Cic. Lig. 8, 25; id. Phil. 5, 10, 27; Liv. Ep. 129.—With bellum suscipere: contra Antonium, Cic. Phil. 8, 2, 5; so, contra patriam, id. Sull. 20, 58: pugnare contra patriam, id. ib. 25, 70: contra conjuges et liberos, Sen. Ben. 5, 15, 5: armatum esse contra populum Romanum, Cic. Prov. Cons. 13, 32.—With arma ferre (freq.), Cic. Phil. 2, 29, 72; 13, 21, 47; Liv. 28, 28, 15; Nep. Att. 4, 2; Tib. 1, 6, 30; Ov. M. 4, 609; 13, 269; id. P. 1, 1, 26.—With arma sumere or capere, Cic. Rab. Perd. 6, 19; id. Phil. 4, 1, 2; 4, 3, 7: armis contendere contra, Caes. B. G. 2, 13: arma alicui dare (trop.), Cic. Phil. 2, 21, 53: aciem instruere (trop.), Liv. 25, 4, 4: exercitum comparare, Cic. Phil. 3, 6, 14; 4, 1, 2: exercitum instruere, id. Cat. 2, 11, 24: exercitum ducere and adducere, id. Phil. 4, 2, 5; 3, 4, 11: exercitum contra Philippum mittere, id. Inv. 1, 12, 17: naves ducere contra, Hor. Epod. 4, 19: ducere contra hostes, Liv. 1, 27, 4: florem Italiae educere contra, Cic. Cat. 2, 11, 24: proficisci contra, to march against , Liv. 1, 11, 3; 8, 2, 5: auxilium ferre Rutulis contra Latinos, Plin. 14, 12, 14, § 88: juvare aliquem contra, Caes. B. C. 1, 35: consilium inire contra Sequanos, to take hostile measures against , id. B. G. 6, 12.—
c Of legal contention (more freq. adversus, except with verbs of saying).
α In gen., with agere or causam agere, to act as counsel against a party or his attorney : cum agerem contra hominem disertissimum nostrae civitatis, Cic. Caecin. 33, 97; id. Brut. 63, 226; Sen. Ben. 4, 15, 3; Quint. 11, 1, 59.—Causam recipere or suscipere contra, to accept a retainer against : (causam) quam receperam contra pueros Octavios, Cic. Att. 13, 49, 1; Quint. 6, 1, 12; Plin. Ep. 4, 17, 1.—Adesse alicui contra, to appear, act as one's counsel against : rogavit me Caecilius ut adessem contra Satrium, Cic. Att. 1, 1, 3; Plin. Ep. 1, 7, 5 al.; cf.: esse contra, id. ib. 1, 18, 3.—Trop.: conquesturus venit; at contra se adfuit et satisfacienti satisfecit, Sen. Fragm. Amic. 14, 1, 89: causam defendere contra, against the accuser , Cic. de Or. 1, 39, 178: statuere contra aliquem (sc. causam), to establish a case against an adversary , id. Or. 10, 34: actio competit contra, Dig. 49, 14, 41: querelam instituere contra, ib. 5, 2, 21, § 1: bonorum possessionem petere contra, ib. 5, 2, 23: jus obtinere contra, Cic. Quint. 9, 34: pugnare contra, to struggle against the accuser , id. Sull. 17, 49; id. Verr. 1, 11, 33: id quod mihi contra illos datum est, i. e. a local advantage over , id. Tull. 14, 33: judicare contra aliquem, id. Fl. 20, 48; Dig. 21, 2, 55; 5, 2, 14; Just. Inst. 4, 17, 2: pronuntiare contra, Paul. Sent. 5, 34, 2: dare sententiam contra, Dig. 21, 2, 56, § 1: decernere contra, Cic. Fl. 31, 76: appellare contra aliquem, Dig. 49, 1, 3; 49, 5, 6; cf.: contra sententiam, Cod. Just. 7, 62, 32, § 2.—Sentire contra aliquem, to have an opinion unfavorable to : cur vos (cum) aliquid contra me sentire dicatis, etc., Cic. Caecin. 27, 79.—
β Venire contra aliquem, to appear as counsel for one's adversary : quid tu, Saturi, qui contra hunc venis, existimas aliter? Cic. Rosc. Com. 6, 18; id. Mur. 4, 9; id. Phil. 8, 6, 18.—Venire contra rem alicujus, to give advice damaging one's interests : contra rem suam me venisse questus est, Cic. Phil. 2, 2, 3.—
γ With dicere and other verbs of saying. (αα) Of a lawyer pleading against a lawyer: ipse ille Mucius, quid in illā causā cum contra te diceret, attulit quod? etc., Cic. de Or. 1, 57, 244: cum ille contra me pro Sex. Naevio diceret, id. Brut. 60, 2, 7; id. de Or. 2, 7, 30; id. Rosc. Am. 15, 45; id. Div. in Caecil. 14, 44; id. Planc. 2, 5; id. Brut. 26, 102; so, causam dicere, id. Or. 2, 23, 98: causam perorare, id. Quint. 24, 77.— (ββ) Of a lawyer's pleading against the parties: dic mihi, M. Pinari, num si contra te dixero mihi male dicturus es? Servil. ap. Cic. de Or. 2, 65, 261; 3, 34, 138; 1, 14, 60; id. Or. 35, 123; Quint. 11, 1, 57; cf. with ellipsis of acc.: quorum alter pro Aufldiā, contra dixit alter, id. 10, 1, 22.— (γγ) Of a party against a lawyer: si Gaditani contra me dicerent, if the Gaditani were my adversaries , Cic. Balb. 17, 38.— (δδ) Of witnesses and experts, and the pleadings against them: si decressent legationem quae contra istum diceret, Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 4, § 12: contra testes dicere (opp. a testibus or pro testibus). Auct. Her. 2, 6, 9; Cic. de Or. 2, 27, 118 (cf.: testimonium in aliquem dicere, id. Sull. 17, 48; Quint. 7, 4, 36): contra juris consultos dicere, against their legal opinions , Cic. Caecin. 24, 69.—So of witnesses in scientific questions: contra testes dicendum est, Sen. Q. N. 7, 16, 1.— (εε) Dicere or contendere aliquid contra aliquem, to maintain a point against : cum interrogamus adversarios ... quid contra nos dici possit, Auct. Her. 4, 23, 33: tamenne vereris ut possis hoc contra Hortensium contendere? Cic. Quint. 25, 78. —
d Of literary adversaries, mostly with verbs of saying and writing: cum scriberem contra Epicurios, Cic. Att. 13, 38, 1: contra Epicurum satis superque dictum est, id. N. D. 2, 1, 2: contra Brutum, id. Tusc. 5, 8, 21: contra Academiam, id. Ac. 2 ( Luc. ), 19, 63; id. Fin. 1, 1, 2; 5, 8, 22; id. Tusc. 5, 11, 32; 5, 30, 84; id. Ac. 2 ( Luc. ), 4, 17: contra autem omnia disputatur a nostris, id. Off. 2, 2, 8.—
e Of public and political adversaries (syn. adversus and in).
α In gen.: sentire contra, Cic. Mil. 2, 5: pugnare contra bonos, id. Sull. 25, 71: contra eos summā ope nitebatur nobilitas, Sall. C. 38, 2; Cic. Sest. 19, 42; 52, 112: (tribuni) qui aut contra consulem, aut pro studio ejus pugnabant, Liv. 39, 32, 12.—
β Of political speaking: cum (Cato) eo ipso anno contra Serv. Galbam ad populum summā contentione dixisset, Cic. Brut. 20, 80; so id. Imp. Pomp. 17, 53; Cael. ap. Cic. Fam. 8, 9, 1.—
f Of hostile or criminal acts in gen. (syn.: adversus, in): inire consilia contra, Cic. Rosc. Am. 38, 110; id. Cat. 1, 7, 18: manum comparare contra aliquem, id. Sull. 24, 68: conjurationem facere, id. ib. 4, 12: congredi, id. Lig. 3, 9; Sall. J. 64, 4: aliquid contra imperatorem moliri, Just. Inst. 4, 18, 3: nec dolor armasset contra sua viscera matrem, against her own offspring Ov. R. Am. 59.—Facere contra (more freq. with abstr. objects; cf. II. C. 1. f. β infra): nunc te contra Caesarem facere summae stultitiae est, to take parts against , Cael. ap. Cic. Fam. 8, 16, 2: eae (res) contra nos ambae faciunt, operate against us , id. Quint. 1, 1.—With verbs of saying, etc.: homo disertus non intellegit, eum quem contra dicit laudari a se? Cic. Phil. 2, 8, 18; 2, 1, 2; 2, 21, 51; Sen. Ep. 15, 3, 70: epigramma quod contra quamdam Gelliam scripsit, Lampr. Alex. Sev. 38: disputare contra deos, in two signif.: contra deum licet disputare liberius, to accuse, reproach a god , Cic. N. D. 3, 31, 76; but: mala et impia consuetudo est contra deos disputandi, to reason against the gods , i. e. against their existence , id. ib. 2, 67, 168.—
2 Predicatively, with esse (videri, etc.), against, injurious to, unfavorable, prejudicial, to one's disadvantage : ut ex senatusconsulto neque cujus intersit, neque contra quem sit intellegi possit, Cic. Mur. 32, 68; id. de Or. 3, 20, 75; 2, 74, 299; 2, 81, 330; id. Sull. 13, 39; Sen. Ben. 6, 31, 6: licentiam malis dare certe contra bonos est, injurious to , Quint. 4, 2, 75: res contra nos est, of unfavorable chances in a lawsuit, id. 4, 66, 1; 4, 2, 75; 5, 13, 32.—Often, contra aliquem = quod est contra aliquem, referring to indef. pronouns or adjectives: nihil contra me fecit odio mei = nihil quod esset contra me, Cic. Har. Resp. 3, 5; id. Off. 3, 31, 112: quibus (temporibus) aliquid contra Caesarem Pompeio suaserim, id. Phil. 2, 10, 24.—
3 Added adverb. to the predicate, mostly referring to purpose, with hostile intent, for the purpose of some hostile act, in order to oppose, in opposition : Caesarine eam (provinciam) tradituri fuistis, an contra Caesarem retenturi? or keep it against Caesar , Cic. Lig. 7, 23: sero enim resistimus ei quem per annos decem aluimus contra nos, id. Att. 7, 5, 5: judicium illud pecuniā esse temptatum non pro Cluentio, sed contra Cluentium, id. Clu. 4, 9; id. Imp. Pomp. 17, 52; id. Ac. 2 ( Luc. ), 28, 92: cum quae facitis ejusmodi sint ut ea contra vosmet ipsos facere videamini, id. Rosc. Am. 36, 104; Sen. Ep. 3, 7, 3: Curio se contra eum totum parat, i. e. to speak against him , Cael. ap. Cic. Fam. 8, 8, 10; Caes. B. C. 1, 85 ter; Sen. Q. N. 1, 7, 1; Plin. 16, 39, 74, § 192; Plin. Pan. 41.—So with the force of a temporal clause: fidem meam quam essent contra Massam Baebium experti, in the suit against , Plin. Ep. 3, 4, 4.—
4 Dependent on adjectives (rare): contra se ipse misericors, to his own injury , Phaedr. 4, 18, 3: severissimus judex contra fures, Lampr. Alex. Sev. 28.—
5 With nouns.
a Acc. to 1. b.: ut quam maximae contra Hannibalem copiae sint, Cic. Inv. 1, 12, 17; cf. Vell. 2, 76, 3.—
b Acc. to 1. c. and 1. e.; so esp., oratio contra (cf.: oratio in).
α Oratio contra (never in), of an address against the counsel of a party or against the prosecutor: quid in omni oratione Crassus vel apud centumviros contra Scaevolam, vel contra accusatorem Brutum, cum pro Cn. Plancio diceret? Cic. de Or. 2, 54, 220; cf.: Cato pro se contra Cassium = in oratione contra, Gell. 10, 15, 3; so, haec perpetua defensio contra Scaevolam, Cic. de Or. 2, 54, 221: orationem illam egregiam quam (Aeschines) in Ctesiphontem contra Demosthenem dixerat, id. ib. 3, 56, 213.—
β Of an address against the party, either in judicial or political affairs: unam orationem contra Gracchum reliquit, Cic. Brut. 26, 99: (Demosthenis) oratio contra Leptinem ... contra Aeschinem falsae legationis, id. Or. 31, 111; Gell. 10, 24, 10; 10, 18, 91; Cic. Brut. 46, 169; Quint. 12, 10, 61; Cic. de Or. 2, 11, 45; id. Brut. 44, 164; Gell. 13, 25 (24), 15; cf. Quint. 4, 3, 13; 11, 2, 25.—
c Acc. to 1. f.: contra patres concitatio et seditio, Cic. Brut. 14, 56.—Of animals: contra volpium genus communibus inimicitiis, Plin. 10, 76, 96, § 207.
C With inanimate and abstract objects.
1 Directly dependent on verbs (cf. B. 1.).
a Of physical or moral exertion: cum fulmina contra Tot paribus streperet clipeis, Verg. A. 10, 567: pugnandum tamquam contra morbum, sic contra senectutem, Cic. Sen. 11, 35: contra verum niti, Sall. J. 35, 8: contra fortunam luctari, Sen. Ben. 7, 15, 2; id. Brev. Vit. 10, 1; id. Ep. 78, 15; 99, 32; cf. Cic. Off. 1, 31, 110.—
b Of warfare (lit. and trop.): bellum contra aras, focos, vitam fortunasque gerere, Cic. Phil. 3, 1, 1: bellum gerimus ... contra arma verbis, id. Fam. 12, 22, 1.—So of logical contradictions: artificis autem est invenire in actione adversarii quae semet ipsa pugnent, Quint. 5, 13, 30.—
c Of legal contention.
α Of the actions of the counsel or prosecutor: dicere, or perorare, agere contra aliquid, to plead against, contest something : contra argumenta, rumores, tabulas, quaestiones (opp. ab argumentis, etc.), Auct. Her. 2, 6, 9 sqq.; Cic. de Or. 2, 27, 118: contra ratiocinationem, id. Inv. 2, 50, 153: contra scriptum dicere, to contest, controvert a written law or a document , id. ib. 2, 47, 138; 2, 48, 143; id. Brut. 39, 145; Quint. 7, 7, 1: contra caput dicere, to plead against life , Cic. Quint. 13, 44 (cf.: servum in caput domini interrogare, Paul. Sent. 1, 1, 34; 5, 16, 5 and 8; 5, 46, 3): contra libertatem agere, Dig. 40, 12, 26.—Pregn.: contra rerum naturam, contraque consuetudinem hominum dicere (opp. contra nos dicere), Cic. Rosc. Am. 15, 45.—
β Of judicial decisions contradicting documents, etc.: contra tabulas judicare, Cic. de Or. 2, 70, 281: contra testamentum, Dig. 2, 17, § 1: contra sententiam dicere, ib. 49, 8, 1, § 2.—
γ Admittere aliquem contra bona, to admit a petition for bonorum possessio (cf.: inmittere in bona), Dig. 38, 2, 3, § 6.—
d Of antagonism in literary and ethical questions.
α To contend that something is false : dicere, disputare, disserere contra opinionem or sententiam, Cic. Tusc. 1, 4, 8; 5, 19, 55; id. de Or. 3, 18, 67; id. Fin. 5, 4, 10; id. Ac. 2 ( Luc. ), 18, 60; Sen. Ira, 1, 3, 3; id. Ep. 87, 5; 102, 5 (cf.: in sententiam dicere, in support of an opinion , Caes. B. G. 1, 45): contra sensus dicere, Cic. Ac. 2 ( Luc. ), 31, 101: contra rhetoricen dicere, Quint. 2, 17, 40.—
β Of criticism, hostility to principles, etc.: contra Iliadem et Odysseam scribere, Vitr. 7, praef. 8: contra quorum disciplinam ingenium ejus exarserat, Cic. Tusc. 5, 29, 83.—
γ Ethically: contra voluptatem dicere, that pleasure is a moral evil , Cic. Fin. 5, 8, 21: contra mortem loqui, that death is no evil , Sen. Ep. 82, 7; in both senses: contra vitia, pericula, fortunam, ambitionem, id. ib. 100, 10: contra fortunam gloriari, that fortune has no power over him , Cic. Tusc. 5, 9, 26; Sen. Ep. 26, 5.—
e Of public and political acts and speeches: contra potentiam accusatorum dicere, Cic. Brut. 44, 164: contra legem dicere or verba facere, id. Imp. Pomp. 15, 53; Liv. 34, 8, 1: rogationem ferre contra coloniam ( = contra legem de coloniā deducendā), Cic. Clu. 51, 140; Auct. Her. 1, 17, 21; Plin. 8, 17, 24, § 64.—
f Of hostility, injury, wrongs, etc.
α In gen.: senatusconsulto quod contra dignitatem tuam fieret, directed against , Cic. Fam. 12, 29, 2: contra rem publicam se commovere, id. Cat. 1, 26; 1, 3, 7: incitari, id. Sest. 47, 100: consilia inire, id. Agr. 2, 3, 8: conjurationem facere, Sall. C. 30, 6: contra salutem urbis incitari, Cic. Cat. 3, 8, 20: cogitare aliquid contra salutem, id. ib. 3, 9, 21: contra voluntatem or studium dicere, to oppose one's will in a speech : esse aliquem in civitate qui contra ejus (Chrysogoni) voluntatem dicere auderet, id. Rosc. Am. 22, 60; id. Phil. 1, 11, 28; id. de Or. 3, 34, 138; id. Mur. 4, 10; Tac. H. 2, 91: ne quid contra aequitatem contendas, ne quid pro injuriā, do not array yourself against equity , Cic. Off. 2, 20, 71.—Trop.: quis non contra Marii arma, contra Suliae proscriptionem irascitur? ( = Mario propter arma, Sullae propter proscriptionem), Sen. Ira, 2, 2, 3.—
β In partic.: facere contra aliquid (syn. adversus), to commit an offence against, to transgress , etc.: si quis ad Antonium profectus esset ... senatus existimaturum eum contra rem publicam fecisse, Cic. Phil. 8, 11, 33; id. Mil. 5, 13; 6, 14; id. Off. 3, 10, 43; 3, 25, 95; S. C. ap. Cael. ap. Cic. Fam. 8, 8, 6; Liv. 25, 4, 7; so, contra salutem rei publicae facere, Cic. Dom. 38, 102: contra majestatem, against the emperor , Dig. 48, 4, 5: contra leges, Cic. Dom. 18, 48; id. Vatin. 7, 18; id. Fin. 2, 17, 55; id. Mur. 32, 67; id. de Or. 3, 19, 70; cf. id. Clu. 34, 92; id. Mur. 32, 68; id. Dom. 14, 38; id. Phil. 10, 6, 13; Gai Inst. 4, 121: contra edictum (praetoris), Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 10, § 25; Dig. 39, 1, 20, § 1: contra foedus, Cic. Balb. 6, 16: contra jusjurandum ac fidem, id. Off. 3, 10, 43; id. Lael. 3, 30, 74; id. Verr. 2, 3, 3, § 7; Prop. 3, 30, 44 (2, 32, 44).—And ironically: tune contra Caesaris nutum (sc. facies)? Cic. Att. 14, 10, 1.—Rarely contra ea facere = contra facere, adverb. (cf. I. B. 8. and II. E. 1. b.): corpus in civitatem inferri non licet ... et qui contra ea fecerit, extra ordinem punitur, Paul. Sent. 1, 21, 2; 1, 21, 12.—
2 Predicatively with esse (usu. impers. ), in violation of, in conflict with, contrary to (cf. 3. γ).
α With esse expressed as the predicate: hominem hominis incommodo suum augere commodum magis est contra naturam quam mors, Cic. Off. 3, 5, 21; id. Fin. 3, 9, 31; id. N. D. 3, 13, 33; Sen. Ep. 5, 4; Plin. 7, 8, 6, § 45: contra leges or legem est, Cic. Pis. 13, 30; id. Mur. 32, 67: contra officium est, id. Off. 3, 10, 43; 1, 10, 32; 1, 6, 19; cf. id. Lael. 11, 39; id. Off. 3, 15, 63; Liv. 6, 40, 5; Sen. Q. N. 2, 37, 2; Gai Inst. 3, 157; Dig. 30, 1, 112, § 3; 16, 3, 1, § 7.—With ellipsis of object (naturam), Cic. Fin. 5, 29, 89; cf.: adeo res ista non habet ullam moram quae contra causas ignium sit, unfavorable to the formation of fire , Sen. Q. N. 2, 26, 7.—
β With verbal predicate, referring to an indef. pron. or adj., with esse understood: scis hunc ... nihil umquam contra rem tuam cogitasse ( = nihil quod contra rem tuam esset), Cic. Rosc. Am. 50, 147; id. Mil. 5, 13: aliquid contra animum audiendi, something against our liking , Sen. Const. 19, 2.—So mostly with facere: si quid Socrates aut Aristippus contra morem consuetudinemque fecerint, Cic. Off. 1, 41, 148; id. Att. 3, 23, 2; 2, 22, 2; id. Off. 3, 15, 63; Sall. C. 15, 1; Dig. 8, 2, 11; 8, 2, 17; 35, 1, 79, § 2. —
γ Contra officium, substantively, = id quod contra officium est: Sic inter recte factum atque peccatum, officium et contra officium, media locabat quaedam, Cic. Ac. 1, 10, 37.—
3 Adverbially with the predicate.
α In order to oppose, in opposition to, with hostile intent (cf. B. 3.): eidem illam proscriptionem capitis mei contra salutem rei publicae rogatam esse dicebant, that the proposal of the law was an attack on the republic , Cic. Prov. Cons. 19, 45; id. Rab. Perd. 12, 35; id. Phil. 10, 10, 22: imperator contra postulata Bocchi nuntios mittit, to reply to the demands , Sall. J. 83, 3; 25, 6; so, advocare contra, Sen. Cons. Polyb. 12, 4; id. Ep. 15, 2, 52: si contra mortem te praeparaveris, to meet death, id. ib. 11, 3, 8.—
β With the force of a clause of manner, injuriously to , etc.: quibus contra valetudinis commodum laborandum est, Cic. Mur. 23, 47; Suet. Aug. 78: contra hominis salutem, with danger to a man's life , Cod. Just. 7, 62, 29.—
γ In gen., of conflict with some rule or principle, contrary to, in violation of, without regard to ( = ita ut contra sit; cf. 2. supra; very freq. from the class. period; syn. adversus): ceperitne pecunias contra leges P. Decius, Cic. de Or. 2, 31, 136; id. Verr. 2, 1, 4, § 10; id. Fl. 34, 86: pecuniam contra leges auferre, id. Verr. 1, 18, 56; 2, 1, 10, § 27; 2, 5, 18, § 46; id. Har. Resp. 26, 56: contra legem, id. Rab. Perd. 3, 8; id. Dom. 16, 41: contra jus fasque, id. Har. Resp. 16, 34; id. Quint. 6, 28: contra jus, Liv. 5, 4, 14; id. Dom. 13, 55; id. Verr. 2, 5, 13, § 34: contra jus gentium, Liv. 4, 32, 5; 9, 10, 10; 21, 25, 7; 5, 36, 6; 6, 1, 6: contra juris rigorem, Dig. 40, 5, 24, § 10 et saep.: contra testimonium aliquid judicare, without regard to , Cic. Brut. 31, 117: aliquid contra verecundiam disputare, contrary to the rules of decency , id. Off. 1, 35, 128: aliquid contra fidem constituere, Quint. 5, 13, 34: quae majores nostri contra lubidinem animi sui recte atque ordine fecere, contrary to the dictates of passion , Sall. C. 51, 4; id. J. 33, 1; cf. of logical opposition, II. E. 2. infra.—
4 Dependent on substt.
a Of physical strife: scit ille imparem sibi luctatum contra nexus (draconis), Plin. 8, 12, 12, § 33. —
b Of warfare: imperatorum copia contra tuum furorem, Cic. Mur. 39, 83: Parthorum gloria contra nomen Romanum, Liv. 9, 18, 6: in castris perditorum contra patriam, Planc. ap. Cic. Fam. 10, 23, 6.—
c Of legal contention: causa contra scriptum, Cic. Inv. 2, 46, 135.—
d Of political speaking: divina M. Tullii eloquentia contra leges agrarias, Quint. 2, 16, 7; 9, 3, 50; Gell. 18, 7, 7.—
e Of literary opposition: Caesaris vituperatio contra laudationem meam, Cic. Att. 12, 40, 1.—
f Of hostility, etc.: cujus factum, inceptum, conatumve contra patriam, Cic. Cat. 2, 12, 27: ullum factum dictumve nostrum contra utilitatem vestram, Liv. 6, 40, 5.—
g Of injury: vitae cupiditas contra rem publicam, Cic. Planc. 37, 90: contra serpentes venenum, fatal to serpents , or as a defence against serpents , Plin. 7, 2, 2, § 15.—
h Of violation, disregard, etc. (cf. 3. γ): iter contra senatus auctoritatem, Cic. Phil. 2, 19, 48: contra consuetudinem somnium, Plin. 10, 77, 98, § 211: bonorum possessio contra tabulas, Dig. 37, 4, 3, § 13; Gai Inst. 3, 41.—
5 Dependent on adjectives (very rare; cf. II. D. 2. c. infra): contraque patris impii regnum impotens, avum resolvam, Sen. Herc. Fur. 966.
D Of defence, protection, and resistance (syn.: adversus, ab).
1 Against persons.
a Dependent on verbs: cum populus Romanus suam auctoritatem vel contra omnes qui dissentiunt possit defendere, Cic. Imp. Pomp. 22, 63: si ego consul rem publicam contra te et gregales tuos defendissem, id. Sest. 52, 111; 22, 49; 8, 20; id. Fam. 11, 27, 7; id. Phil. 2, 18, 45: contra quem multum omnes boni providerunt, provided a great defence , id. Mur. 38, 81: formula quā utitur patronus contra libertum qui eum in jus vocat, as a defence against , Gai Inst. 4, 46. —And of protection of plants against injurious animals: contra haec animalia proderit, si, etc., Pall. 10, 3, 2.—
b Dependent on adjectives, mostly participial: paratus contra, Cic. Mil. 21, 56: nihil satis firmum contra Metellum, Sall. J. 80, 1: contra potentes nemo est munitus satis, Phaedr. 2, 6, 1.—
2 Against inanimate and abstract things.
a Dependent on verbs: contra avium morsus munitur vallo aristarum, Cic. Sen. 15, 51: propugnaculum, quo contra omnes meos impetus usurum se putat, id. Verr. 2, 3, 16, § 40; 2, 5, 39, § 102: publicam causam contra vim armatam suscipere, id. Dom. 34, 91; id. Quint. 30, 94; id. Leg. 3, 3, 9: contra tantas difficultates providere, Sall. J. 90, 1; 76, 4; so, contra ea, id. ib. 57, 5: patricii vi contra vim resistunt, Liv. 3, 13, 4; Plin. 14, 2, 4, § 28; Tac. Agr. 45; Sen. Prov. 4, 12; id. Const. 5, 4.—
b Dependent on substt.: suffragia contra oppugnationem vestrae majestatis, Cic. Rab. Perd. 12, 35: defensio contra vim, id. Mil. 5, 14: patronus justitiae fuit contra orationem Phili, id. Lael. 7, 25; Plin. 29, 2, 9, § 30; 14, 3, 4, § 40: contra labores patientia, id. 23, 1, 22, § 37.—
c Dependent on adjectives (in Cic. freq. with P. a. predicatively used; otherwise very rare; in later prose freq.): nec est quidquam Ciliciā contra Syriam munitius, against an attack from the side of Syria , Cic. Fam. 14, 4, 4: ut nullius res tuta, nullius domus clausa, nullius vita saepta, nullius pudicitia munita contra tuam cupiditatem posset esse, id. Verr. 2, 5, 15, § 39; id. Fin. 1, 16, 51; id. Mil. 25, 67; id. Tusc. 5, 8, 19; 5, 27, 76: vir contra audaciam firmissimus, id. Rosc. Am. 30, 85; Sall. J. 33, 2; 28, 5: fortis contra dolorem, Sen. Ep. 98, 18; Quint. 12, 1, 10: callosus, Plin. 11, 37, 54, § 147; 14, 2, 4, § 23: far contra hiemes firmissimum, id. 18, 8, 19, § 83: equus tenax contra vincula, Ov. Am. 3, 4, 13: contraque minantia fata pervigil, Claud. I. Cons. Stil. 1, 284.—
3 Of remedies against sickness and its causes, poison, etc.; so only in Plin.; in Pall. only of preventives and of protection against hurtful animals, and against mental perturbations in gen.; cf. infra (syn. ad in Cat., Cic., Cels., Col.; adversus only in Celsus, who also has in with abl.).
α Dependent on verbs: cujus et vinum et uva contra serpentium ictus medetur, Plin. 14, 18, 22, § 117; 7, 2, 2, § 13: prodest et contra suspiria et tussim, id. 20, 13, 50, § 128: valet potum contra venena, id. 28, 7, 21, § 74; 29, 4, 22, § 71; 29, 4, 26, § 81; 28, 8, 27, § 98; 16, 37, 71, § 180; 35, 6, 14, § 34; 28, 6, 18, §§ 65-67.—
β Dependent on substt.: remedium contra morsus, Plin. 8, 32, 50, § 118; 10, 59, 79, § 163: contra venena esse omnia remedio, id. 16, 44, 95, § 251; 17, 24, 37, § 240; 7, 1, 1, § 4.—
γ Dependent on adjectives: vinum quod salutare contra pestilentiam sit, Pall. 11, 14, 17.—
δ Appositively, as a remedy : cujus lacteum succum miris laudibus celebrat ... contra serpentes et venena, Plin. 5, 1, 1, § 16; 29, 4, 26, § 83. —So of remedies against affections: Tiberium tonante caelo coronari eā (lauro) solitum ferunt contra fulminum metus, Plin. 15, 30, 40, § 135; cf. Sen. Ira, 2, 21, 1; id. Tranq. 5, 1.
E Of logical opposition.
1 With a neuter demonstrative (contra ea, contra haec, contra quae, quod contra = contra, adv.).
a The contrary, the reverse (very rare; cf. I. D. 1.): sed mihi contra ea videtur, but to me the contrary seems true , Sall. J. 85, 1: omnia quae contra haec sunt, omnia quae contra sunt, and vice versa , Quint. 5, 10, 90. —
b Contra ea, on the contrary , in logical antithesis (not in Cic. and Sall.; once in Caes. and Quint.; several times in Liv. and Nep.; cf.: contra ea, in other uses, II. A. 2. e. α, II. D. 2. a., II. A. 3. d., II. C. 1. f.): omnes arderent cupiditate pugnandi ... contra ea Caesar ... spatiumque interponendum ... putabat ( = at contra), but Caesar on the contrary , Caes. B. C. 3, 74: superbe ab Samnitibus ... legati prohibiti commercio sunt; contra ea benigne ab Siculorum tyrannis adjuti, Liv. 4, 52, 6; 2, 60, 1; 21, 20, 6; 44, 43, 5: pater ... Thracem me genuit, contra ea mater Atheniensem, Nep. Iphicr. 3, 4; id. praef. 6; id. Alcib. 8, 1.—And after a question, with immo (cf. I. E. 5. b.): an infirmissimi omnium ... (sumus)? Immo contra ea vel viribus nostris, vel, etc., tuti (sumus), Liv. 41, 24, 8.—
c Quod contra, by anastrophe (v. F. 1.), contrary to which, whereas, while on the contrary (only once in Lucr. and three times in Cic.): illud in his rebus vereor ne forte rearis, Inpia te rationis inire elementa viamque indugredi sceleris: quod contra saepius illa Religio peperit scelerosa atque impia facta, whereas on the contrary , Lucr. 1, 81: cujus a me corpus crematum est, quod contra decuit ab illo meum (sc. cremari), Cic. Sen. 23, 84: quod contra oportebat delicto dolere, correctione gaudere, id. Lael. 24, 90 (B. and K. place a comma after oportebat; cf. Nauck ad loc.): reliquum est ut eum nemo judicio defenderit: quod contra copiosissime defensum esse contendi, id. Quint. 28, 87 (many consider contra in all these passages as an adverb; cf. Hand, Turs. II. p. 121 sq.; some explain quod as an ancient ablative, = quā re; v. Ritschl, Plaut. Exc. p. 57, Munro ad Lucr. 1, 82).—
2 With an abstract noun, with the force of the adverb contra with ac or atque (I. F. 1.), contrary to, contrary to what , etc. (esp. in Sall., not in Cic.; cf. praeter): celeriter contraque omnium opinionem confecto itinere, contrary to the opinion ( = contra ac rati erant), Caes. B. G. 6, 30: contra opinionem Jugurthae ad Thalam perveniunt, Sall. J. 75, 9; Hirt. B. G. 8, 40.—Contra spem either contrary to the opinion , or against the hope : Metellus contra spem suam laetissume excipitur ( = contra ac ratus, veritus est), Sall. J. 88, 1; so, cetera contra spem salva invenit, Liv. 9, 23, 17: contra spem omnium L. Furium optavit, id. 6, 25, 5; Curt. 8, 4, 45; but: at Jugurtha contra spem nuntio accepto ( = contra ac speraverat), Sall. J. 28, 1; Liv. 24, 45, 3: postquam ... Jugurtha contra timorem animi praemia sceleris adeptum sese videt, Sall. J. 20, 1: ipse in Numidiam procedit, ubi contra belli faciem tuguria plena hominumque ... erant ( = contra ac in bello evenire solet), id. ib. 46, 5: contra famam, Plin. 13, 22, 43, § 126; 7, 53, 54, § 180: segniterque et contra industriam absconditae formicae, slowly, and in a manner different from their usual activity , id. 18, 35, 88, § 364.—Of persons: frigidam potionem esse debere, contra priores auctores, Asclepiades confirmavit, contrary to the opinion of the former physicians , Cels. 4, 26 (19).
F Sometimes by anastrophe after its noun.
1 In prose, after relatives, esp. in Cic.: quos contra disputant, Cic. Ac. 2 ( Luc. ), 15, 47: quem contra dicit, id. Phil. 2, 8, 18 (v. II. B. 1. f.): quem contra veneris, id. Mur. 4, 9: quas contra, praeter te, etc., id. Vatin. 7, 18: eos ipsos quos contra statuas, id. Or. 10, 34: quos contra me senatus armavit, id. Att. 10, 8, 8: quam contra multa locutus est, Sen. Ep. 82, 7, Plin. Ep. 1, 23, 3; Claud. in Rufin. 1, 332; v. also E. 1. c. supra.—
2 After other words (poet. and in post-Aug. prose): hunc igitur contra mittam contendere causam, Lucr. 4, 471: dicere eos contra, id. 4, 484: donique eum contra, id. 5, 708: agmina contra, Verg. A. 12, 279: magnum Alciden contra, id. ib. 5, 414: Paridem contra, id. ib. 5, 370: Italiam contra, id. ib. 1, 13: deos contra, Ov. P. 1, 1, 26: Messania moenia contra, id. M. 14, 17: litora Calabriae contra, Tac. A. 3, 1.