Wordwyrt

contravene

/ˈkɒntɹəˌvin/KON-truh-veen
/ˈkɑntɹəˌvin/KAHN-truh-veen

Meaningto oppose

Common meaning: break a rule or law

Journey through time

  1. Late Latincontravenire‘to oppose’source
  2. Frenchmeaning shiftsto oppose → to thwartcontrevenir‘to thwart’source
  3. Englishmeaning shiftsto thwart → break a rule or lawcontravene‘break a rule or law’ · today

Sources & notes

Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.

Pronunciation

  • UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
  • No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
  • US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
  • No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.

Origin: Built on Late Latin contravenire ‘to oppose’.

Roots

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