Mary, Mary, quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells, and cockle shells,
And pretty maids all in a row.
I’ve always liked Mary Quite Contrary. I never understood what was so contrary about her in this nursery rhyme though.
- Contrary – Opposed in essence, purpose, aim. Inclined to oppose and contradict. Perverse. Contrarious, to be contrary, perverse, contradictory.
- Perverse – Willfully deviating from acceptable or conventional behaviour, opinion, etc. Capricious. Morally wicked.
- Adverse – Opposing or opposed.
- Capricious – Characterized by or resulting from caprice. Fickle, whimsical. Fanciful. Caprice – A sudden change of mind or action without adequate motive, a whim.