contrarywise

Contrarywise is an archaic adverb meaning in a contrary manner; in the opposite way. The form combines contrary with the suffix -wise, which in English denotes manner or direction. The term is attested in older English texts and reached its peak in periods when playful or formal diction was common in prose.

Etymology and form: The word is built from the adjective contrary plus the adverbial suffix -wise (as in otherwise, clockwise, likewise). This construction is characteristic of historical English and is now largely confined to literary or stylistic uses. The sense aligns with “in a manner that is opposite or opposing.”

Usage and modern status: Contrarywise is considered archaic or literary in contemporary English. It is rarely used outside historical, whimsical, or explicitly stylized contexts. In modern prose, speakers and writers typically replace it with phrases such as “in the opposite way,” “on the contrary,” or “in a contrary manner.”

Cultural and literary associations: The term is often noted for its fairy-table, antiquated flavor and is associated with 19th-century literature. It is frequently cited in discussions of Lewis Carroll’s writings, where Carroll’s whimsical and old-fashioned diction embodies the spirit of contrarywise language. Beyond Carroll, the word appears sporadically in other Victorian-era works and in modern fantasy as a deliberate stylistic echo of that period.

See also: contrary, likewise, otherwise, -wise suffix.