\Ob*lique"\, a. [F., fr. L. obliquus; ob (see {Ob-}) +
liquis oblique; cf. licinus bent upward, Gr ? slanting.]
[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 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.

\Ob*lique"\, n. (Geom.)
An oblique line.

\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.) 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.