contradict
UK[ˌkɒntrəˈdɪkt]US[ˌkɑːntrəˈdɪkt]
v
To say the opposite of what someone else has said, or to be so different from another fact or statement that one of them must be wrong.
v
To be in opposition to or conflict with something.
Morpheme Breakdown
contra
dict
contra
against
dict
speak
Etymology
The word 'contradict' is a direct borrowing from the Latin verb 'contradicere', which is itself a compound of 'contra-' (against) and 'dicere' (to say). The literal meaning, 'to speak against', has remained remarkably consistent from its Latin origins into modern English. The root 'dicere' is part of a large and productive Latin family, giving rise to numerous English words related to speech and proclamation, such as 'diction', 'predict', and 'verdict'. Thus, 'contradict' elegantly encapsulates the concept of asserting a statement that is in direct verbal opposition to another.
Analysis
Structure: contra (against) + dict (speak)
- contra: A Latin prefix meaning 'against', 'opposite', or 'contrary to'.
- dict: A Latin root from the verb 'dicere', meaning 'to say' or 'to speak'.
Examples
The witness's testimony seemed to contradict the physical evidence found at the scene.
It is unwise to contradict your boss in front of the entire team.
His actions contradict his stated principles, which has damaged his credibility.