All 6 Uses of
oblique
in
Gulliver's Travels
- When the position of the stone is oblique, the motion of the island is so too: for in this magnet, the forces always act in lines parallel to its direction.†
Chpt 3 *
- By this oblique motion, the island is conveyed to different parts of the monarch's dominions.†
Chpt 3
- then the island will be driven upwards obliquely towards D. When it is arrived at D, let the stone be turned upon its axle, till its attracting end points towards E, and then the island will be carried obliquely towards E;†
Chpt 3
- then the island will be driven upwards obliquely towards D. When it is arrived at D, let the stone be turned upon its axle, till its attracting end points towards E, and then the island will be carried obliquely towards E;†
Chpt 3
- where, if the stone be again turned upon its axle till it stands in the position E F, with its repelling point downwards, the island will rise obliquely towards F, where, by directing the attracting end towards G, the island may be carried to G, and from G to H, by turning the stone, so as to make its repelling extremity to point directly downward.†
Chpt 3
- And thus, by changing the situation of the stone, as often as there is occasion, the island is made to rise and fall by turns in an oblique direction, and by those alternate risings and fallings (the obliquity being not considerable) is conveyed from one part of the dominions to the other.†
Chpt 3
Definitions:
-
(1)
(oblique as in: an oblique reference) indirect; i.e., not straightforward
-
(2)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) meaning too rare to warrant focus:
Less commonly, oblique can have other meanings that relate to the concept of slanting:- An oblique line is not parallel or perpendicular to its reference line.
- An oblique angle is not a right angle or a multiple of a right angle.
- An oblique muscle is one that runs at a slant relative to the long axis of the body or relevant limb--such as the abdominal obliques.