contrā

From Proto-Italic *komterād, ablative singular feminine of *komteros (“the other of the two who meet, opposite”). The ablative singular masculine/neuter of the same is continued in Latin contrō-, cognate to Oscan contrud. Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ḱómteros, from *ḱóm (“next to, at, with, along”) +‎ *-teros (contrastive suffix); thus, a doublet of cum, comparable to the relation between intrā and in, and extrā and ex, but unlike these lacking external cognates, and therefore of Italic origin.

The change from instrumental/ablative to accusative is caused by *-teros used adverbially.

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ˈkon.traː/, [ˈkɔn̪t̪räː]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ˈkon.tra/, [ˈkɔn̪t̪rä]

Adverb

contrā (not comparable)

1. against
2. opposite to
3. contrary to
4. otherwise
5. in return, back

Preposition

contrā (+ accusative)

1. against
2. across from, opposite