Contrariwise
/ˌkɒn.trəˈraɪ.waɪz/noun
In the opposite or contrary manner; conversely.
Did you know?The suffix “-wise” originally meant “in the manner of,” which survives in words such as likewise, clockwise, and otherwise.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ḱom + *terós
“Together or with + through/across; a proposed ancestral basis for the Latin contrastive formation”
Classical Latin
Latin
contrā
“Against, opposite, or on the contrary”
Classical Latin
Latin
contrārius
“Opposite, contrary, or adverse”
12th Century
Old French
contraire
“Contrary or opposed; the source of English contrary”
Old English
Old English
wīsan
“In a manner or way; the source of the adverbial element -wise”
16th Century
English
contrariwise
“In a contrary manner or conversely”
Modern English
English
contrariwise
“In the opposite way; conversely”
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