Word Study
contrast
CIDE DICTIONARY
contrast, v. i. [F. contraster, LL. contrastare to resist, withstand, fr. L. contra + stare to stand. See Stand.].
To stand in opposition; to exhibit difference, unlikeness, or opposition of qualities. [1913 Webster]
"The joints which divide the sandstone contrast finely with the divisional planes which separate the basalt into pillars." [1913 Webster]
contrast, v. t.
- To set in opposition, or over against, in order to show the differences between, or the comparative excellences and defects of; to compare by difference or contrariety of qualities; as, to contrast the present with the past. [1913 Webster]
- To give greater effect to, as to a figure or other object, by putting it in some relation of opposition to another figure or object. [1913 Webster]"the figures of the groups must not be all on side . . . but must contrast each other by their several position." [1913 Webster]
contrast, n. [F. contraste: cf. It. contrasto.].
- The act of contrasting, or the state of being contrasted; comparison by contrariety of qualities. [1913 Webster]"place the prospect of the soul
In sober contrast with reality." [1913 Webster] - Opposition or dissimilitude of things or qualities; unlikeness, esp. as shown by juxtaposition or comparison. [1913 Webster]"The contrasts and resemblances of the seasons." [1913 Webster]
- The opposition of varied forms, colors, etc., which by such juxtaposition more vividly express each other's peculiarities. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
contrast, n. & v.
--n.
1 a a juxtaposition or comparison showing striking differences. b a difference so revealed.
2 (often foll. by to) a thing or person having qualities noticeably different from another.
3 a the degree of difference between tones in a television picture or a photograph. b the change of apparent brightness or colour of an object caused by the juxtaposition of other objects.
--v. (often foll. by with)
1 tr. distinguish or set together so as to reveal a contrast.
2 intr. have or show a contrast.
--n.
1 a a juxtaposition or comparison showing striking differences. b a difference so revealed.
2 (often foll. by to) a thing or person having qualities noticeably different from another.
3 a the degree of difference between tones in a television picture or a photograph. b the change of apparent brightness or colour of an object caused by the juxtaposition of other objects.
--v. (often foll. by with)
1 tr. distinguish or set together so as to reveal a contrast.
2 intr. have or show a contrast.
Derivative
contrastingly adv. contrastive adj.
Etymology
F contraste, contraster, f. It. contrasto f. med.L contrastare (as CONTRA-, stare stand)
THESAURUS
contrast
allegory, analogize, analogy, antagonism, anteposition, antipathy, antithesis, arc lighting, assimilate, bad copy, bad likeness, balance, balancing, black and white, bracket, bring into analogy, bring into comparison, bump heads, camouflage, chiaroscuro, clashing, collate, collision, comparative anatomy, comparative degree, comparative grammar, comparative judgment, comparative linguistics, comparative literature, comparative method, compare, compare and contrast, compare with, comparing, comparison, conflict, confront, confrontation, confrontment, contend, contention, contradiction, contradistinction, contraindication, contrapose, contraposit, contraposition, contrariety, contrastiveness, correlation, counteract, counterpose, counterposition, cross-purposes, decorative lighting, departure, deviation, difference, differentiate, direct lighting, disaccord, disaccordance, disagreement, disconformity, discongruity, discordance, discrepancy, discreteness, discriminate, disguise, disparity, dissemblance, dissent, dissimilarity, dissimilation, dissimilitude, dissonance, distinction, distinctiveness, distinctness, distinguish, divergence, divergency, diversity, draw a comparison, draw a parallel, electric lighting, enlightenment, face, far cry, festoon lighting, floodlighting, fluorescent lighting, front, gaslighting, glow lighting, heterogeneity, highlights, hostility, illumination, inaccordance, incandescent lighting, incommensurability, incomparability, incompatibility, incongruity, inconsistency, inconsonance, indirect lighting, inequality, inharmoniousness, inharmony, inimicalness, irradiation, irreconcilability, juxtapose, lie opposite, light and shade, lighting, liken, liken to, likening, makeup, match, matching, measure against, meet head-on, mere caricature, metaphor, metaphorize, mixture, nonconformity, nonuniformity, odds, oppose, opposing, oppositeness, opposition, opposure, oppugnance, oppugnancy, otherness, overhead lighting, parallel, parallelism, perversity, place against, polar opposition, polarity, polarization, polarize, poor imitation, pose against, posing against, proportion, put in opposition, radiation, relate, relation, repugnance, run a comparison, separateness, set against, set in contrast, set in opposition, set off, set off against, set over against, showdown, simile, similitude, similize, spot lighting, stage lighting, stand opposed, stand opposite, strip lighting, subtend, tonality, trope of comparison, unconformity, unlikeness, unorthodoxy, unresemblance, unsameness, unsimilarity, variance, variation, variegation, variety, view together, weigh, weigh against, weighingROGET THESAURUS
contrast
Contrariety
N contrariety, contrast, foil, antithesis, oppositeness, contradiction, antagonism, clashing, repugnance, inversion, the opposite, the reverse, the inverse, the converse, the antipodes, the antithesis, the other extreme, contrary, contrarious, contrariant, opposite, counter, dead against, converse, reverse, opposed, antithetical, contrasted, antipodean, antagonistic, opposing, conflicting, inconsistent, contradictory, at cross purposes, negative, hostile, differing toto coelo, diametrically opposite, diametrically opposed, as opposite as black and white, as opposite as light and darkness, as opposite as fire and water, as opposite as the poles, as different as night and day, Hyperion to a satyr, quite the contrary, quite the reverse, no such thing, just the other way, tout au contraire, contrarily, contra, contrariwise, per contra, on the contrary, nay rather, vice versa, on the other hand, all concord's born of contraries, Thesis, antithesis, synthesis.Difference
VB be different, differ, vary, ablude, mismatch, contrast, divaricate, differ toto coelo, differ longo intervallo, vary, modify, discriminate.Comparison
N comparison, collation, contrast, identification, comparative estimate, relative estimate, relativity, simile, similitude, analogy (similarity), allegory, matching, pattern-matching, ratio, proportion (number), discrimination, indiscrimination, identification, comparative, metaphorical, compared with, comparable, judged by comparison, relatively, as compared with, comparisons are odious, comparisons are odorous.VB compare to, compare with, collate, confront, place side by side, juxtapose, set against one another, pit against one another, contrast, balance, identify, draw a parallel, parallel, compare notes, institute a comparison, parva componere magnis.
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