contradictory
Meaning
containing or showing a complete opposition between different things; being opposite and unable to both be true at the same time
(of a person) tending to disagree with or say the opposite of what someone else says or does
Structure
Usage
the witness gave contradictory accounts of what happened that night.
his actions are completely contradictory to his stated principles.
the evidence presented in the case was confusing and contradictory.
Etymology
the word 'contradictory' is built upon the latin foundations of opposition and speech. the prefix 'contra-' directly imports the sense of 'against', while the core '-dict-' root, derived from the verb 'dicere' (to say), carries the fundamental idea of speaking or declaring. these elements combine in the latin verb 'contradicere', meaning 'to speak against' or 'to gainsay'. the english adjective form is completed by adding the suffix '-ory', which transforms the verbal action into a descriptive quality. thus, the literal 'speaking against' evolves into the modern abstract meaning of containing mutually opposing statements or qualities that cannot logically coexist.
Analysis
- contra: from latin 'contra', meaning 'against, opposite'. functions as a prefix indicating opposition. - dict: from latin 'dictus', the past participle of 'dicere', meaning 'to say, speak, declare'. functions as a root. - ory: from latin '-orius', an adjective-forming suffix meaning 'pertaining to, serving for, characterized by'.