cater-cornered

[kat-i-kawr-nerd, kat-ee-, kat-er-] /ˈkæt ɪˌkɔr nərd, ˈkæt i-, ˈkæt ər-/

Word Origin

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adjective

diagonal.

adverb

diagonally.

Also, catercorner, cater-corner, catty-corner, catty-cornered, kitty-corner, kitty-cornered.

Origin of cater-cornered

Middle French

Latin

1830-1840

1830-40; dial. cater (adv.) diagonally (probably to be identified with obsolete cater four < Middle French quatre < Latin quattuor) + cornered

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018.
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British Dictionary definitions for catercorner

cater-cornered

/ˈkætəˌkɔːnəd/

adjective, adverb

(US & Canadian, informal) diagonally placed; diagonal Also catty-cornered, kitty-cornered

Word Origin

C16 cater, from dialect cater (adv) diagonally, from obsolete cater (n) four-spot of dice, from Old French quatre four, from Latin quattuor

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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cater-cornered

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