Crossword Genius

A German mug? On the contrary (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

einstein

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'contrary' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are adjectives, I cannot see how they can define each other.

'a german mug? on' is the wordplay.
'a german' becomes 'ein' ('a' in German).
'mug?' becomes 'stein' (stein is a kind of mug).
'on' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'ein'+'stein'='EINSTEIN'

'the' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for einstein that I've seen before include "Albert -, relativity physicist" , "Famous scientist of the nineties" , "Brilliant scientist" , "Albert . . . . . . . . founder of theory of relativity" , "Genius; physicist" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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