Category:Oblique

Ob*lique", a. Etym: [f., fr. L. obliquus; ob (see ob-) + liquis Oblique; cf. licinus bent upward, gr [written also oblike.]

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. Oblique angle, oblique ascension, etc. See under angle,ascension, Etc. -- oblique arch (arch.), an arch whose jambs are not at right angles With the face, and whose intrados is in consequence askew. -- oblique bridge, a skew bridge. See under bridge, n. -- oblique case (gram.), any case except the nominative. See case, N. -- oblique circle (projection), a circle whose plane is oblique to The axis of the primitive plane. -- oblique fire (mil.), a fire the direction of which is not Perpendicular to the line fired at. -- oblique flank (fort.), that part of the curtain whence the fire Of the opposite bastion may be discovered. Wilhelm. -- oblique leaf. (bot.) (a) a leaf twisted or inclined from the Normal position. (b) a leaf having one half different from the other. -- oblique line (geom.), a line that, meeting or tending to meet Another, makes oblique angles with it. -- oblique motion (mus.), a kind of motion or progression in which One part ascends or descends, while the other prolongs or repeats the Same tone, as in the accompanying example. -- oblique muscle (anat.), a muscle acting in a direction oblique to The mesial plane of the body, or to the associated muscles; -- Applied especially to two muscles of the eyeball. -- oblique narration. See oblique speech. -- oblique planes (dialing), planes which decline from the zenith, Or incline toward the horizon. -- oblique sailing (naut.), the movement of a ship when she sails Upon some rhumb between the four cardinal points, making an oblique Angle with the meridian. -- oblique speech (rhet.), speech which is quoted indirectly, or in A different person from that employed by the original speaker. -- oblique sphere (astron. & geog.), the celestial or terrestrial Sphere when its axis is oblique to the horizon of the place; or as it Appears to an observer at any point on the earth except the poles and The equator. -- oblique step (mil.), a step in marching, by which the soldier, While advancing, gradually takes ground to the right or left at an Angle of about 25º. It is not now practiced. Wilhelm. -- oblique system of coördinates (anal. Geom.), a system in which The coördinate axes are oblique to each other.

Oblique Ob*lique", n. (geom.)

Defn: an oblique line.

Oblique Ob*lique", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Obliqued p. pr. & vb. n. Obliquing.]

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. (mil.)

Defn: 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.