The Collaborative International Dictionary
Contravene \Con`tra*vene"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Contravened; p. pr. & vb. n. Contravening.] [LL. contravenire; L. contra + venire to come: cf. F. contrevenir. See Come.]
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To meet in the way of opposition; to come into conflict with; to oppose; to contradict; to obstruct the operation of; to defeat.
So plain a proposition . . . was not likely to be contravened.
--Southey. -
To violate; to nullify; to be inconsistent with; as, to contravene a law.
Laws that place the subjects in such a state contravene the first principles of the compact of authority.
--Johnson.Syn: To contradict; set aside; nullify; defeat; cross; obstruct; baffle; thwart.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
1640s, verbal noun from contravene; from 1802 as a present participle adjective.
Wiktionary
vb. (present participle of contravene English) (to act contrary or to deny something.)
Usage examples of "contravening".
What I want is that you gentlemen offer no resistance, but come with me quietly to answer on the morrow before Judge Parry, a charge of contravening the laws against betting and gambling.
He knew that the police would call soon enough to inform him that he was contravening the new law.
Penalty for contravening the law, One Hundred Sibs and, for a Second Offence, Life Imprisonment.
Your Envoy is in desperate need of rest, and I'm already contravening our medic's instructions by allowing her to speak to you for so long.
Non-Cuban Hispanics voted for Gore by 75 percent, contravening Milton Himmelfarb’s famous quip that Jews live like Episcopalians and vote like Puerto Ricans.
When my son came to your apartment with you on Friday, when he spoke to you as he did, and acted as he did, he was directly contravening my instructions and advice.
His idea of conversion was a sudden and radical change in character that would be a sort of spiritual magic, contravening all the natural laws of growth and development.
Can I ask you what he's like, or is that contravening the Official Secrets Act?
I was horrified as I drew up the indictment which seemed to me to contain charges of burglary at common law, house breaking under the Forcible Entries Act, contravening the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries Act and Serving Alcohol on Unlicensed Premises.