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.