Oblique
WordNet
adjective
(1) Indirect in departing from the accepted or proper way; misleading
"Used devious means to achieve success"
"Gave oblique answers to direct questions"
"Oblique political maneuvers"
(2) Slanting or inclined in direction or course or position--neither parallel nor perpendicular nor right-angled
"The oblique rays of the winter sun"
"Acute and obtuse angles are oblique angles"
"The axis of an oblique cone is not perpendicular to its base"
noun
(3) A diagonally arranged abdominal muscle on either side of the torso
(4) Any grammatical case other than the nominative
WiktionaryText
Etymology
From , , from
Adjective
- Not erect or perpendicular; neither parallel to, nor at right angles from, the base; slanting; inclined.
- It has a direction oblique to that of the former motion. - Cheyne.
- Not straightforward; indirect; obscure; hence, disingenuous; underhand; perverse; sinister.
- The love we bear our friends . . . Hath in it certain oblique ends. - Drayton.
- This mode of oblique research, when a more direct one is denied, we find to be the only one in our power. - De Quincey.
- Then would be closed the restless, oblique eye. / That looks for evil, like a treacherous spy. - Wordworth.
- Not direct in descent; not following the line of father and son; collateral.
- His natural affection in a direct line was strong, in an oblique but weak. - Baker.
- Having the base of the blade asymmetrical, with one side larger or extending further than the other.
Verb
- To deviate from a perpendicular line; to move in an oblique direction.
- Projecting his person towards it in a line which obliqued from the bottom of his spine. - Sir. W. Scott.
- To march in a direction oblique to the line of the column or platoon; — formerly accomplished by oblique steps, now by direct steps, the men half-facing either to the right or left.
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