contrastn.
/ˈkɒntrɑːst/, /ˈkɒntrast/, U.S. /ˈkɑnˌtræst/ 1. Contention, strife; = contrasto n. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > dissent > contention or strife > [noun]
i-winc888
wrestlingc890
fightc1000
flitec1000
teenOE
winOE
ungrithlOE
wara1200
cockingc1225
strife?c1225
strivingc1275
struta1300
barratc1300
thro1303
battlec1375
contentionc1384
tuggingc1440
militationa1460
sturtc1480
bargain1487
bargaining1489
distrifea1500
concertation1509
hold1523
conflict1531
ruffle1532
tangling1535
scamblingc1538
tuilyie1550
bustling1553
tilt1567
ruffling1570
wresting1570
certationc1572
pinglinga1578
reluctation1593
combating1594
yoking1594
bandying1599
tention1602
contrast1609
colluctation1611
contestationa1616
dimication1623
rixation1623
colluctance1625
decertation1635
conflicting1640
contrasto1645
dispute1647
luctation1651
contest1665
stickle1665
contra-colluctation1674
contrasting1688
struggle1706
yed1719
widdle1789
scrambling1792
cut and thrust1846
headbutting1869
push-and-pull1881
contending1882
thrust and parry1889
aggro1973
1609 S. Daniel Civile Wares (rev. ed.) viii. xlviii. 215 Nor was it now a time to haue contrast With any forrain mighty Potentate.
1613 S. Daniel Coll. Hist. Eng. ii. 91 He [William I] married Matilde..but not without contrast [1621, 1626 contrist; 1634, 1650 ‘revised and corrected’ contest] and trouble.
1644 Vindex Anglicus 5 How ridiculous..is the merchandise they [verbal innovators] seek to sell for current. Let me afford you a few examples..read and censure Adpugne..Ebriolate, Caprious, Contrast, etc.
a1670 J. Hacket Scrinia Reserata (1693) ii. 209 In all these Contrasts the Archbishop prevailed.
II. Senses relating to comparison and differentiation.
2.
a. Fine Arts. The juxtaposition of varied forms, colours, etc., so as to heighten by comparison the effect of corresponding parts and of the whole composition.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > discovery > comparison > contrast > [noun] > in the fine arts
contrast1713
society > leisure > the arts > the arts in general > [noun] > work of art > qualities generally
decoruma1568
humoura1568
variety1597
strength1608
uniformity1625
barbarity1644
freedom1645
boldness1677
correctness1684
clinquant1711
unity1712
contrast1713
meretriciousness1727
airiness1734
pathos1739
chastity1760
vigour1774
prettyism1789
mannerism1803
serio-comic1805
actuality1812
largeness1824
local colour1829
subjectivitya1834
idealism1841
pastoralism1842
inartisticalitya1849
academicism1852
realism1856
colour contrast1858
crampedness1858
niggling1858
audacity1859
superreality1859
literalism1860
pseudo-classicism1861
sensationalism1862
sensationism1862
chocolate box1865
pseudo-classicality1867
academism1871
actualism1872
academicalism1874
ethos1875
terribilità1877
local colouring1881
neoclassicism1893
mass effect1902
attack1905
verismo1908
kitsch1921
abstraction1923
self-consciousness1932
surreality1936
tension1941
build-up1942
sprezzatura1957
1713 Ld. Shaftesbury Notion Hist. Draught Judgm. Hercules iii. 24 That regular Contraste, and nice Ballance of Movement which Painters are apt to admire as the chief Grace of Figures.
1741 S. Richardson Pamela IV. xvi. 113 If there be an artful Contraste in the Drama, there will be the same in the Musick.
1766 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield I. viii. 69 The Roman poet understands the use of contrast better.
1844 J. Ruskin Mod. Painters (ed. 2) I. Pref. p. liv Contrast increases the splendour of beauty, but it disturbs its influence; it adds to its attractiveness, but diminishes its power.
b. The degree of differentiation between different tones in a photographic negative or print; also applied to a television picture. Also attributive.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > photography > a photograph > qualities and effects > [noun] > contrast, etc.
high contrast1895
gamma1903
contrast1911
step wedge1931
society > communication > broadcasting > television > visual element > [noun] > television picture or image > tone differentiation
contrast1940
1911 A. Watkins Photography (ed. 5) vi. 91 The exposure decides the density of the negative, and the length of development the contrast between the tones.
1921 Brit. Jrnl. Photogr. 9 Sept. 534/1 These filters..increase the contrast of the photograph, and the clearness of detail in the scene... They are..called ‘contrast’ filters.
1940 Chambers's Techn. Dict. 195/1 Contrast control (television), control of the ratio of illumination between the lightest and darkest parts of a reproduced television image.
1958 Newnes Compl. Amateur Photogr. 97 The deliberate distortion of colour rendering for pictorial effect (with ‘contrast’ filters).
1961 G. Millerson Technique Television Production 46 A contrast range of 30:1 is generally accepted as providing good picture quality photographically.
1961 G. Millerson Technique Television Production 47 If contrast is kept to too narrow limits, the picture will look flat and lifeless.
3. Comparison of objects of like kind whereby the difference of their qualities or characteristics is strikingly brought out; manifest exhibition of opposing qualities; an instance of this.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > contrariety or contrast > [noun]
riot?c1225
contrariositya1340
contrarietyc1380
contrariness1398
contrariousness1398
repugnance?a1425
contrariancec1450
oppositiona1500
contraposition1581
countermatching1587
counterposition1594
antipathy1601
antistrophe1605
thwarting1609
contrariancya1617
antithesis1631
contrast1731
contrastiveness1949
the mind > attention and judgement > discovery > comparison > contrast > [noun]
contention1530
contraposition1581
counterposition1594
syncrisis1656
contrast1731
counterview1738
contrastment1823
the mind > attention and judgement > discovery > comparison > contrast > [noun] > instance of
contrast1731
1731 Lett. fr. Fog's Weekly Jrnl. (1732) II. 257 Contraste of Scenes! Behold a worthless Tool, etc.
1752 S. Johnson Rambler No. 194. ⁋10 Accident may indeed sometimes produce a lucky parallel or a striking contrast.
1856 R. W. Emerson Eng. Traits vi. 118 The steep contrasts of condition create the picturesque in society.
1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. iv. 34 The contrast between the two waters was very great.
1863 ‘G. Eliot’ Romola I. xx. 329 A room..in the utmost contrast with the..half-sombre tints of the library.
4. That which on comparison with another thing shows a striking difference from it; a person or thing of most opposite qualities.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > contrariety or contrast > [noun] > the opposite of something
contraryc1386
reversec1405
the contraverse1480
nothing less?1520
contrariety1532
negative1532
oppositive1561
different1571
diameter1579
contrariwise1588
opposition1594
counterpoint1599
oppositea1616
other thing1628
antipodes1641
inverse1645
contra1648
contrast1754
converse1786
contrariant1848
antipole1856
obverse1862
antithetic1863
contradictory1874
antipathy-
the mind > attention and judgement > discovery > comparison > contrast > [noun] > person or thing exhibiting
contrast1754
1754 W. Hay Deformity 3 To make these appear a Contrast to my Subject.
1788 F. Burney Diary 8 Nov. (1842) IV. 302 What a contrast from such an intention was the event!
1796 H. Hunter tr. J.-H. B. de Saint-Pierre Stud. Nature (1799) I. 575 An object has but one contrary, but it may have many constrasts. White is the contrary of black; but it contrasts with blue, green, red, and various other colours.
1828 I. D'Israeli Comm. Life Charles I I. iv. 69 Buckingham offered a provoking contrast to his master.
1833 C. Bell Hand vii. 168 Pain is the necessary contrast to pleasure.
5. (a) Psychology. The modification or intensification of a sensation by the juxtaposition of another (frequently opposite) sensation. (b) spec. The reciprocal induction of colours, brightnesses, and shapes when brought into juxtaposition; the modification of the apparent colour, brightness, or shape of an object by the presence of another colour, brightness, or shape nearby; (see quots.). Also attributive, as contrast disc, one used with a colour-mixer to exhibit the phenomena of contrast.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > psychology > psychology of perception > process of perception > [noun] > modification of sensation
contrast1873
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > thing seen > appearance or aspect > [noun] > seeming > of colour or shape when juxtaposed with another
contrast1873
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > thing seen > appearance or aspect > [adjective] > seeming or apparent > of colours > of colour or shape when juxtaposed with another
contrast1873
1873 P. H. Pye-Smith tr. H. von Helmholtz in E. Atkinson et al. tr. H. von Helmholtz Pop. Lect. Sci. Subj. vi. 267 This is proved by a number of experiments contrived to illustrate the effects of contrast.
1873 P. H. Pye-Smith tr. H. von Helmholtz in E. Atkinson et al. tr. H. von Helmholtz Pop. Lect. Sci. Subj. vi. 267 When, for example, objects are seen under two different coloured media..these conditions produce what is called simultaneous contrast.
1873 P. H. Pye-Smith tr. H. von Helmholtz in E. Atkinson et al. tr. H. von Helmholtz Pop. Lect. Sci. Subj. vi. 267 This effect is known as successive contrast, and is experienced when the eye passes over a series of coloured objects.
1890 E. B. Delabarre in W. James Princ. Psychol. II. xvii. 13 The phenomena of contrast.
1890 E. B. Delabarre in W. James Princ. Psychol. II. xvii. 13 If we look for a moment at any surface and then turn our eyes elsewhere, the complementary color and opposite degree of brightness to that of the first surface tend to mingle themselves with the color and the brightness of the second. This is successive contrast.
1890 E. B. Delabarre in W. James Princ. Psychol. II. xvii. 14 A visual image is modified..by all those [sensations] experienced simultaneously with it... This is the phenomenon of simultaneous contrast.
1890 E. B. Delabarre in W. James Princ. Psychol. II. xvii. 21 The gray spot then assumes a contrast-color, complementary to that of the background.
1894 J. E. Creighton & E. B. Titchener tr. W. M. Wundt Lect. Human & Animal Psychol. vii. 114 The subjective colour due to this opposition..is also termed contrast colour.
1894 J. E. Creighton & E. B. Titchener tr. W. M. Wundt Lect. Human & Animal Psychol. vii. 114 To refer the phenomena of contrast to like causes with complementary after-images.
1897 C. H. Judd tr. W. M. Wundt Outl. Psychol. xxiii. 324 The law of psychical contrasts..refers..to the relations of psychical contents to one another.
1897 C. H. Judd tr. W. M. Wundt Outl. Psychol. xxiii. 325 This law of contrast has its origin in the attributes of the subjective contents of experience, but is secondarily applied to the ideas and their elements also.
a1899 D. G. Brinton Basis Social Relations (1902) 42 The third law, that of Contrast, applies to the ethnic mind the curious fact in mental life that a prolonged devotion to one idea leads to a reaction in which the opposite of that idea becomes dominant.
1901 E. B. Titchener Exper. Psychol. I. i. 19 The contrast disc, with an extra 30° of white or black in its ring, is set up before its appropriate background. The contrast colour is matched upon the second mixer as before. Note that the same grey background must be retained for the second mixer, in order that the contrast relations may remain the same on both discs.
1938 R. S. Woodworth Exper. Psychol. xxii. 567 Much more striking is the interaction known as contrast, including brightness contrast and color contrast.
1938 R. S. Woodworth Exper. Psychol. xxii. 567 Contrast between adjacent regions is called simultaneous contrast to distinguish it from the successive contrast resulting from retinal adaptation.
1957 Amer. Jrnl. Psychol. 70 iii. 358 Since we have demonstrated two types of reaction to a shift in context, i.e. contrast and assimilation, the question arises as to whether or not this loss in discrimination is specific to either contrast or assimilation.
1958 H. Helson in D. C. Beardslee & M. Wertheimer Readings in Perception 260 It has been denied that contrast mechanisms could account for these effects.
1966 L. M. Hurvich & D. A. Jameson Perception of Brightness & Darkness v. 85 What the contrast mechanism seems to do in all these instances is to magnify the differences in apparent brightness between adjacent areas of different luminances.
Compounds
C1. General attributive.
contrast-effect n.
ΚΠ
1888 Amer. Jrnl. Psychol. 2 639 Let us see if, as Helmholtz says, we have to do with contrast effects only... The shadow will appear of a slightly red tinge... This red is evidently purely an effect of contrast with the green.
1905 W. James in McClure's Mag. May 5/2 Thoroughness of sympathy..made us overflow, on meeting after long absences, into such laughing greetings as: ‘Ha! you old thief! Ha! you old blackguard!’—pure ‘contrast-effects’ of affection and familiarity passing beyond their bounds.
1909 E. B. Titchener Text-bk. Psychol. i. 76 The contrast-effect is always in the direction of greatest opposition.
1966 L. M. Hurvich & D. A. Jameson Perception of Brightness & Darkness v. 96 If we want a vividly striking demonstration of contrast effects, we can set up a stimulus situation where contours or lines are perceived in the visual field by contrast action even though no such lines actually exist in the stimulus pattern itself.
1967 H. Helson et al. Contemp. Approaches Psychol. iv. 165/2 The contrast effects (elation and depression) implied a learning about reward with which the older theory certainly could make no contact.
C2.
contrast-medium n. (see quot.).
ΚΠ
1955 Gloss. Terms Radiol. (B.S.I.) 56 Contrast medium, any suitable substance used in diagnostic radiology to give contrast.
Draft additions March 2020
contrast agent n. a substance introduced into a part of the body to enhance the quality of a radiographic image by increasing the contrast of internal structures with respect to adjacent tissue; = contrast-medium n. at Compounds 2.
ΚΠ
1924 Acta Radiol. 3 344 Poisonings of this kind have been seen to occur partly as the result of partaking of bismuth subnitrate per os, either for purely therapeutical purposes or as a contrast agent in roentgenography of the digestive tract.
1996 New Scientist 1 June 20/1 More reliable diagnoses may be made possible by injecting patients with a ‘contrast agent’ that sharpens the images.
2007 M. Hofer CT Teaching Man. (ed. 3) 20/2 To opacify the proximal parts of the GIT [= gastrointestinal tract]..the patient swallows the contrast agent in several small portions.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1893; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
contrastv.
/kənˈtrɑːst/, /kənˈtrast/, /ˈkɒntrɑːst/, /ˈkɒntrast/, U.S. /ˈkɑnˌtræst/, /kənˈtræst/ I. In early use.† 1.
a. transitive. To withstand, resist, fight against.
ΘΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > opposition > oppose [verb (transitive)] > strive against
to stand with ——OE
warc1230
contrast1489
gainstrive1549
oppugn1591
warsle1606
combat1627
stickle1627
reluctate1668
antagonize1742
to fight up against1768
1489 W. Caxton tr. C. de Pisan Bk. Fayttes of Armes ii. xii. 112 He contrested or gaynstode hym in bataylle.
1490 W. Caxton tr. Eneydos xxvii. 96 He myght not withstande ne contreste the..tribulacion of the see.
b. intransitive. To resist; to strive, contend.
ΘΠ
society > society and the community > dissent > contention or strife > contend [verb (intransitive)]
winc888
fightc900
flitec900
wraxlec1000
wrestlea1200
cockc1225
conteckc1290
strivec1290
struta1300
topc1305
to have, hold, make, take strifec1374
stightlea1375
debatec1386
batea1400
strugglec1412
hurlc1440
ruffle1440
warc1460
warslea1500
pingle?a1513
contend1529
repugn1529
scruggle1530
sturtc1535
tuga1550
broilc1567
threap1572
yoke1581
bustle1585
bandy1594
tilt1595
combat1597
to go (also shake, try, wrestle) a fall1597
mutiny1597
militate1598
combatizec1600
scuffle1601
to run (or ride) a-tilt1608
wage1608
contesta1618
stickle1625
conflict1628
stickle1647
dispute1656
fence1665
contrast1672
scramble1696
to battle it1715
rug1832
grabble1835
buffet1839
tussle1862
pickeer1892
passage1895
tangle1928
1490 W. Caxton tr. Eneydos xiv. 50 The goode renomme of Elysse myghte notte contryste ayenste her grete desire.
1672 O. Walker Of Educ. ii. i. 227 Let us not contrast with the whole World, as if we were universall reformers.
1688 S. Penton Guardian's Instr. 90 The necessary Mixture and Complication of your Affairs..will afford you Contrasting more than enough. Create as few Troubles to yourself as you can.
II. In Modern English.
2. transitive. Fine Arts. To put in contrast, to place in such juxtaposition as to bring strongly out differences of form, colour, etc., and thus to produce a striking effect.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > the arts in general > [verb (transitive)] > put in contrast
contrast1695
the mind > attention and judgement > discovery > comparison > contrast > [verb (transitive)] > in fine arts
contrast1695
1695 J. Dryden tr. R. de Piles in tr. C. A. Du Fresnoy De Arte Graphica 119 Those which are before must contrast or oppose those others which are hindermost.
1715 J. Richardson Ess. Theory of Painting 125 The Colours must be also Contrasted..so as to be grateful to the Eye.
1768 W. Gilpin Ess. Prints 12 The figures of the principal group are very well contrasted.
3. gen. To set in opposition (two objects of like nature, or one with, rarely to, another) in order to show strikingly their different qualities or characteristics, and compare their superiorities or defects.Usually of mental comparison only.Not in Johnson (1755–73).
ΘΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > discovery > comparison > contrast > [verb (transitive)]
oppone1574
oppose1579
contrapose1617
confront1649
counterpose1657
contrast1799
1799 Med. & Physical Jrnl. 1 491 By emetics..fomentations, and above all, by suddenly contrasting the hot and cold bath.
1827 R. Whately Logic in Encycl. Metrop. 238/1 Perpetually contrasting it with systems with which it has nothing in common but the name.
1853 F. W. Newman tr. Horace Odes 113 Horace artificially contrasts the top to the basement of the mansion.
1861 T. Hughes Tom Brown at Oxf. I. v. 87 He contrasted our hero with the few men with whom he generally lived.
1871 J. Yeats Techn. Hist. Commerce (1872) 398 The microscope and telescope are well contrasted by Dr. Chalmers.
4. Of things:
a. Of figures, colours, etc.: To set off (each other) by opposition or contrast.
ΘΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > discovery > comparison > contrast > [verb (transitive)] > set off by contrast
contrast1695
foil1856
1695 J. Dryden in tr. C. A. Du Fresnoy De Arte Graphica Pref. p. xlvii The Figures of the Grouppes..must contrast each other by their several positions.
1715 J. Richardson Ess. Theory of Painting 124 In a Composition..one thing must Contrast, or be varied from another.
1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones IV. x. i. 6 The Foibles and Vices..become more glaring Objects, from the Virtues which contrast them, and shew their Deformity. View more context for this quotation
1778 J. Reynolds Disc. Royal Acad. (1876) viii. 449 In the artificial management of the figures it is directed that they shall contrast each other.
a1825 H. Fuseli Lect. viii, in J. Knowles Life & Writings H. Fuseli (1831) II. 349 The brown and sun-tinged hermit, and the pale decrepit elder, contrast each other.
b. To offer or form a contrast to.
ΘΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > discovery > comparison > contrast > [verb (transitive)] > form a contrast to
contrast1767
1767 ‘Coriat Junior’ Another Traveller! I. 91 The thin, transparent, black veil adown the face, contrasts the red and white.
1795 Cicely II. 119 Monks whose dark garments contrasted the snow.
1837 E. Bulwer-Lytton Ernest Maltravers I. i. i. 6 Her face singularly contrasted that of the man.
5. passive of 4, in sense of 6. Const. by, to.
Π
1740 W. Warburton Divine Legation Moses vi. vi, in Wks. (1811) V. 46 Whose dexterity in the arts of Controversy was so remarkably contrasted by his abilities in reasoning and literature.
1773 R. Graves Euphrosyne (1776) I. 24 A dome is built in yonder grove; Contrasted by a grand alcove.
1779 R. Graves Columella II. 168 The pleasure which I have received..will be contrasted by that melancholy which succeeds to all our most exquisite enjoyments.
1823 J. F. Cooper Pioneers I. iii. 35 The dark foliage of the evergreens was brilliantly contrasted by the glittering whiteness of the plain.
1863 A. W. Kinglake Invasion of Crimea II. 220 The smooth slopes..are contrasted by the aspect of the country on the opposite bank.
1866 J. E. T. Rogers Hist. Agric. & Prices I. xviii. 415 Those habits of early sleeping and waking in which our ancestors were so contrasted with ourselves.
6. intransitive.
a. To form a contrast.
ΘΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > discovery > comparison > contrast > form a contrast [verb (intransitive)]
contrast1715
1715 J. Richardson Ess. Theory of Painting 125 To unite the Contrasting Colours.
1871 F. T. Palgrave Lyrical Poems 118 The happy tints contrasting glow.
b. To exhibit a striking difference on comparison (with).
Π
1819 W. Irving Sketch Bk. i. 42 Her slender form contrasted finely with his tall, manly person.
1833 J. Rennie Alphabet Sci. Angling 21 The most conspicuous colours and such as contrast best with the water.
1856 J. A. Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) I. iv. 359 The language of the House of Commons contrasted favourably with that of the convocation.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1893; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
<
n.1609v.1489