oblique

English

Etymology

From Middle English, oblike, from Latin oblīquus (“slanting, sideways, indirect, envious”)

Pronunciation

• IPA: /oʊˈbliːk/
• Rhymes: -iːk

Adjective

oblique (comparative more oblique, superlative most oblique)

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. (botany, of leaves) Having the base of the blade asymmetrical, with one side larger or extending further than the other.

Derived terms

terms derived from oblique (adj)

oblique angle oblique arch oblique ascension oblique bridge oblique case

oblique circle oblique fire oblique flank oblique line oblique motion

oblique muscle oblique narration oblique planes oblique sailing

oblique speech oblique sphere oblique step oblique system of coordinates

Noun

oblique (plural obliques)

1. (geometry) An oblique line.
2. The punctuation sign "/"
3. (grammar) The oblique case.

Verb

oblique (third-person singular simple present obliques, present participle obliquing, simple past and past participle obliqued)

1. 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.
2. (military) 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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French

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin obliquus.

Pronunciation

• Audio

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Adjective

oblique (epicene, plural obliques)

1. oblique

Verb

oblique

1. first-person singular present indicative of obliquer
2. third-person singular present indicative of obliquer
3. first-person singular present subjunctive of obliquer
4. third-person singular present subjunctive of obliquer
5. second-person singular imperative of obliquer

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Italian

Adjective

oblique f.

1. Feminine plural form of obliquo

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Latin

Adjective

oblīque

1. vocative masculine singular of oblīquus