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cater-cornered

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

adjective

  1. diagonal.


adverb

  1. diagonally.

cater-cornered British  
/ ˈkætəˌkɔːnəd /

adjective

  1. Also: catty-cornered.   kitty-corneredinformal diagonally placed; diagonal

"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

Etymology

Origin of cater-cornered

First recorded in 1830–40; dialectal cater (adverb) diagonally (probably to be identified with obsolete cater “four,” from Middle French, quatre, from Latin quattuor ) + cornered

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The new Colburn structure is under construction on a former parking lot, cater-cornered to the current campus, at 2nd and Olive streets just east of the Grand, creating three contiguous blocks of Gehry-designed buildings.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 20, 2024

Walk a block west on East Pike toward Broadway, then turn left at the intersection cater-cornered from the QFC.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 25, 2023

Yet the most powerful demonstrations about the future of the country may be found at 1661 Pennsylvania Avenue — the once-modest Renwick, cater-cornered from the White House.

From Washington Post • Aug. 6, 2022

Lander will drop you at Hiawatha Playfield, another green space good for a break, which is cater-cornered from Safeway, prime for a bathroom and water if need be.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 8, 2022

He said, "I know a short cut, cater-cornered across the new clearing."

From Westways by Mitchell, S. Weir (Silas Weir)

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