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Contra

Contra

9 9.3
A member of an armed rebel group that fought the Sandinista government in 1980s Nicaragua
  • noun
  • /ˈkɒntrə/
  • NSFW
: contra
  • Many young men joined the contras to oppose the communist regime in Nicaragua.
  • aid to the contras
  • support for the contras
  • Nicaraguan contras

It was some lowly Contra soldier from the other side shooting at the helicopter because it's a Russian helicopter.

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Examples

  • Administration officials also used their influence to encourage the contras to disarm and not impede the transition.

    Academic text (1991)
  • During the 1980s, the contras fought against the Sandinista government in Nicaragua.

  • Other important actors excluded from the transition agreement were contra leaders.

    Academic text (1990)
  • The possibility of contra reprisals against Sandinista supporters was very real following the elections.

    Academic text (1990)
  • After an initial unwillingness by the contra leadership to demobilize, a definitive agreement was finally reached on 30 May 1990.

    Academic text (1990)
  • In exchange for laying down arms, the contras were promised access to special financial assistance, development projects, and economic ventures.

    Academic text (1990)
  • Moreover, it also affirmed the government-elect's determination to bring about a definitive end to the contra war.

    Academic text (1990)
  • For conservative Republicans, Bush obtained $49.7 million in "humanitarian aid" for the contras, and he promised not to abandon them.

    Academic text (1991)
  • Highly suspicious of Sandinista intentions in the aftermath of the elections, contra leaders were openly hostile to the government's more conciliatory policies.

    Academic text (1990)
  • "The anti-communist rebels known as the "contras”... an army founded and funded by the CIA.

Compounds

1 9.9

A traditional dance where couples form two facing lines and follow a set of steps

Surface Forms

Contra singular
Contras plural

Etymology

Contra comes from the Spanish contra, which means 'against' and comes from Latin contra. It is the same root as English words like contrary and contrast, so a Contra was literally someone 'against' the Sandinista government in Nicaragua in the 1980s.