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Webster 1913 Edition


Contravene

Conˊtra-vene′

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Contravened
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Contravening
.]
[LL.
contravenire
; L.
contra + venire
to come: cf. F.
contrevenir
. See
Come
.]
1.
To meet in the way of opposition; to come into conflict with; to oppose; to contradict; to obstruct the operation of; to defeat.
So plain a proposition . . . was not likely to be
contravened
.
Southey.
2.
To violate; to nullify; to be inconsistent with;
as, to
contravene
a law
.
Syn. – To contradict; set aside; nullify; defeat; cross; obstruct; baffle; thwart.

Webster 1828 Edition


Contravene

CONTRAVENE

,
Verb.
T.
[L., to come.] Literally, to come against; to meet. Hence, to oppose, but used in a figurative or moral sense; to oppose in principle or effect; to contradict; to obstruct in operation; to defeat; as, a law may contravene the provisions of the constitution.

Definition 2024


contravene

contravene

English

Verb

contravene (third-person singular simple present contravenes, present participle contravening, simple past and past participle contravened)

  1. (transitive) To act contrary to an order, or fail to conform to a regulation.
    • 2012 May 24, Adam Gabbatt, “Canada student protests erupt into political crisis with mass arrests”, in the Guardian:
      Some legal experts argue that the bill contravenes Canada's charter of rights and freedoms. Montreal constitutional lawyer Julius Grey told the Vancouver Sun that Bill 78 was "flagrantly unconstitutional".
  2. (transitive) To deny the truth of something.

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