Etymologically
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oblique

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Forms

oblīquē (comparative oblīquius, superlative oblīquissimē)[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin oblīquus (“slanting, sideways”) + -ē.[2][3] De Vaan calls the origin of the adjective unknown: the closest words in form and meaning are līmus2 (“transverse”) and sublīmis, but he finds no clear connection outside Italic.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Cicero is the first to use it,[3] of atoms that move either straight or at a slant.[2]

Semantic evolution

The literal sense “at an angle” is also in Caesar, of piles driven in slanting.[5] Of speech it meant by implication or innuendo: the elder Seneca speaks of something that would offend if said openly creeping in oblīquē et furtim, and Tacitus has it of censuring someone indirectly.[2][5] Statius uses it of looking sideways.[2]

Medieval Latin kept both senses, in astronomy for the oblique rising of the signs and in prose for blaming or answering indirectly,[6] and Niermeyer adds “in an underhand way”.[7]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of atoms moving at a slant.[2][3]
  • c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of piles driven in slanting.[5][3]
  • 98–115 AD – Tacitus uses it of indirect censure.[5][3]
  • c. 45–96 AD – Statius uses it of a sidelong look.[2][3]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. Slantwise, at an angle, obliquely.[2][6]
  2. (of speech) By implication, indirectly.[2][5]
  3. With a sidelong glance.[2]
  4. (Medieval Latin) In an underhand way.[7]

Usage notes

The phrases ex oblīquō, per oblīquum and in oblīquum are used in the same sense, “from the side, sideways”.[8]

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  5. ^ a b c d e Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
  6. ^ a b Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
  7. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  8. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press