obliquity

American  

[uh-blik-wi-tee, oh-blik-] / əˈblɪk wɪ ti, oʊˈblɪk- /

noun

plural

obliquities

1. the state of being oblique.

2. divergence from moral conduct, rectitude, etc.; immorality, dishonesty, or the like.

3. an instance of such divergence.

4. mental perversity.

5. an instance of mental perversity.

6. an inclination or a degree of inclination.

7. a confusing or obscure statement or passage of writing, especially one deliberately made obscure.

8. Also called obliquity of the ecliptic.  Astronomy. the angle between the plane of the earth's orbit and that of the earth's equator, equal to 23°27′; the inclination of the earth's equator.

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obliquity British  

/ əˈblɪkwɪtɪ /

noun

1. the state or condition of being oblique

2. a deviation from the perpendicular or horizontal

3. a moral or mental deviation

4. Also called: obliquity of the ecliptic.  astronomy the angle between the plane of the earth's orbit and that of the celestial equator, equal to approximately 23° 27′ at present

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Other Word Forms

• obliquitous
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of obliquity

1375–1425; late Middle English obliquitee < Middle French obliquite < Latin oblīquitās, equivalent to oblīqu ( us ) oblique + -itās -ity

Explanation

Obliquity is a characteristic of being deliberately indirect or vague, especially to fool or deceive someone. The obliquity of many politicians makes it hard to get a straight answer from them. If your teacher comments on the obliquity of your poem, it may be a compliment, or it may mean your writing is just hard to understand. And while obliquity isn't a bad quality in a poet, it's less desirable in a math tutor, or anyone who needs to be straightforward and clear. We can trace the origin of obliquity back to the Latin obliquus, "slanting, sidelong, or indirect."

Example Sentences

Obliquity has led to greater success in novelizing the sixteenth President than have attempts to see him from the inside out and through his own point of view.

From The New Yorker • Feb. 5, 2017

Karl’s old boss at Oxford, John Kay, has written a great book called Obliquity.

From Forbes • Nov. 17, 2011

The Financial Times columnist, John Kay, has made this concept a key part of his latest book, Obliquity, in which he argues that "many goals are more likely to be achieved when pursued indirectly".

From The Guardian • Jan. 27, 2011

"Obliquity has been a military tactic for a long time" – yes, but so has dropping bombs right on the target.

From The Guardian • Apr. 9, 2010

Obliquity -- N. obliquity, inclination, slope, slant, crookedness &c. adj.; slopeness†; leaning &c. v.; bevel, tilt; bias, list, twist, swag, cant, lurch; distortion &c.

From Roget's Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases by Roget, Peter Mark

Related Words

• absurdity
• craziness
• foolishness
• idiocy
• indiscretion
• lunacy
• madness
• recklessness
• silliness
• stupidity