You can picture two statements standing face to face, pushing against each other: one says the light was red, the other says it was green. They cannot both stand. Sometimes a person does the pushing, sometimes the two facts do it by themselves.
From the word’s history
From Latin contradicere, literally 'to speak against': contra 'against' + dicere 'to say'. English took it in the 1570s as 'speak against, oppose', and by 1600 it was also used of statements that are inconsistent with each other.
來自拉丁文 contradicere，字面就是「對著說」：contra「相對、相反」＋ dicere「說」。英文 1570 年代借來時是「出聲反對」，到 1600 年前後也拿來講兩個說法彼此對不上。「話對著話」這個畫面，就是這個字三種用法共同的骨架。
Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/contradict
登入就可以看每一支怎麼連回核心畫面。
原始詞典資料7 筆記錄
以下是外部詞典記錄的用法，摘錄並精簡格式，我們還沒有寫成教學內容。上面的說明才是我們自己寫的；有些用法可能上面已經講過了。
contradictverb/ˌkɒn.tɹəˈdɪkt/
- 1
To deny the truth or validity of (a statement or statements).
- His testimony contradicts hers.
- 1651, Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan, London: Andrew Crooke, Chapter 42 “Of Power Ecclesiasticall,” p. 270, […] the Ministers of Christ in this world, have no Power by that title, to Punish any man for not Beleeving, or for Contradicting what they say;
- 2
To oppose (a person) by denying the truth or pertinence of a given statement.
- Everything he says contradicts me.
- Dear Duff, I prithee, contradict thyself, And say it is not so.
- 3
To be contrary to (something).
- Now no truth can contradict any truth; desirous therefore they were to be taught, how bothe might stand together, that which they knew could not be false, because Christ spake it; and this which to them did seeme true, onely because the Scribes had said it.
- […] as he is going to a house dedicated to joy and mirth, it was fit he should divest himself of whatever was likely to contradict that intention, or be inconsistent with it.
- 4
To say things that conflict with each other.
- The prime minister contradicted herself during her speech.
- 5
obsoleteTo give an order contrary to (another order or wish), oppose (something).
- […] when was the hour I ever contradicted your desire, Or made it not mine too?
- 1662, Margaret Cavendish, The Matrimonial Trouble, Act II, Scene 21 in Playes written by the thrice noble, illustrious and excellent princess, the Lady Marchioness of Newcastle, London: John Martyn et al., p. 435, Lady Sprightly. What had you to do to contradict my commands? Doll Subtilty. They were not fit to be obey’d, wherefore they were forbid.
- 6
obsoleteTo give an order contrary to one given by (another person), oppose or resist (someone).
- Beseemes it thee to contradict thy king? […] I will haue Gaueston, and you shall know, What danger tis to stand against your king.
- A greater power than we can contradict Hath thwarted our intents.
- 7
obsoleteTo speak against; to forbid.
- […] magic hath been publicly professed in former times, in Salamanca, Cracovia, and other places, though after censured by several universities, and now generally contradicted, though practised by some still […].
摘錄自 英文維基詞典 English Wiktionary，已精簡格式；依 CC BY-SA 4.0 授權使用，改動後的內容同樣以此授權提供。