The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Oblique \Ob*lique"\, a. [F., fr. L. obliquus; ob (see Ob-) +
liquis oblique; cf. licinus bent upward, Gr. le`chrios
slanting.] [Written also oblike.]
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1. Not erect or perpendicular; neither parallel to, nor at
right angles from, the base; slanting; inclined.
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It has a direction oblique to that of the former
motion. --Cheyne.
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2. Not straightforward; indirect; obscure; hence,
disingenuous; underhand; perverse; sinister.
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The love we bear our friends . . .
Hath in it certain oblique ends. --Drayton.
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This mode of oblique research, when a more direct
one is denied, we find to be the only one in our
power. --De Quincey.
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Then would be closed the restless, oblique eye.
That looks for evil, like a treacherous spy.
--Wordworth.
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3. Not direct in descent; not following the line of father
and son; collateral.
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His natural affection in a direct line was strong,
in an oblique but weak. --Baker.
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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 coordinates (Anal. Geom.), a system in
which the coordinate axes are oblique to each other.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Sphere \Sphere\, n. [OE. spere, OF. espere, F. sph[`e]re, L.
sphaera,. Gr. ??? a sphere, a ball.]
1. (Geom.) A body or space contained under a single surface,
which in every part is equally distant from a point within
called its center.
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2. Hence, any globe or globular body, especially a celestial
one, as the sun, a planet, or the earth.
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Of celestial bodies, first the sun,
A mighty sphere, he framed. --Milton.
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3. (Astron.)
(a) The apparent surface of the heavens, which is assumed
to be spherical and everywhere equally distant, in
which the heavenly bodies appear to have their places,
and on which the various astronomical circles, as of
right ascension and declination, the equator,
ecliptic, etc., are conceived to be drawn; an ideal
geometrical sphere, with the astronomical and
geographical circles in their proper positions on it.
(b) In ancient astronomy, one of the concentric and
eccentric revolving spherical transparent shells in
which the stars, sun, planets, and moon were supposed
to be set, and by which they were carried, in such a
manner as to produce their apparent motions.
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4. (Logic) The extension of a general conception, or the
totality of the individuals or species to which it may be
applied.
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5. Circuit or range of action, knowledge, or influence;
compass; province; employment; place of existence.
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To be called into a huge sphere, and not to be seen
to move in 't. --Shak.
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Taking her out of the ordinary relations with
humanity, and inclosing her in a sphere by herself.
--Hawthorne.
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Each in his hidden sphere of joy or woe
Our hermit spirits dwell. --Keble.
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6. Rank; order of society; social positions.
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7. An orbit, as of a star; a socket. [R.] --Shak.
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Armillary sphere, Crystalline sphere, Oblique sphere,.
See under Armillary, Crystalline,.
Doctrine of the sphere, applications of the principles of
spherical trigonometry to the properties and relations of
the circles of the sphere, and the problems connected with
them, in astronomy and geography, as to the latitudes and
longitudes, distance and bearing, of places on the earth,
and the right ascension and declination, altitude and
azimuth, rising and setting, etc., of the heavenly bodies;
spherical geometry.
Music of the spheres. See under Music.
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Syn: Globe; orb; circle. See Globe.
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