contra-
Against, contrary.
[Latin contra, against.]
Most words in contra- were created in Latin or Italian and have a figurative or abstract sense: contradict (Latin dicere, to speak); contravene (Latin venire, come); contraband (Italian, from bando, proclamation or ban), goods imported illegally. Compounds created in English include contraflow, contraception, and contraindication. Some are commonly hyphenated: contra-rotating. See also counter-.
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