Oblique

Oblique Ob*lique", a. [F., fr. L. obliquus; ob (see {Ob-}) + liquis oblique; cf. licinus bent upward, Gr. le`chrios slanting.] [Written also {oblike}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Not erect or perpendicular; neither parallel to, nor at right angles from, the base; slanting; inclined. [1913 Webster]

It has a direction oblique to that of the former motion. --Cheyne. [1913 Webster]

2. Not straightforward; indirect; obscure; hence, disingenuous; underhand; perverse; sinister. [1913 Webster]

The love we bear our friends . . . Hath in it certain oblique ends. --Drayton. [1913 Webster]

This mode of oblique research, when a more direct one is denied, we find to be the only one in our power. --De Quincey. [1913 Webster]

Then would be closed the restless, oblique eye. That looks for evil, like a treacherous spy. --Wordworth. [1913 Webster]

3. Not direct in descent; not following the line of father and son; collateral. [1913 Webster]

His natural affection in a direct line was strong, in an oblique but weak. --Baker. [1913 Webster]

{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 25[deg]. It is not now practiced. --Wilhelm.

{Oblique system of co["o]rdinates} (Anal. Geom.), a system in which the co["o]rdinate axes are oblique to each other. [1913 Webster]