cater-cornered

[ kat-i-kawr-nerd, kat-ee-, kat-er- ]

adjective

1. diagonal.

adverb

1. diagonally.

cater-cornered

/ ˈkætəˌkɔːnəd /

adjective

1. informal.
   diagonally placed; diagonal Alsocatty-corneredkitty-cornered

Word History and Origins

Origin of cater-cornered¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of cater-cornered¹

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

Example Sentences

Well, it is off the left-hand side, kind of cater-cornered across from our building.

From Project Gutenberg

It is generally used though, I believe, as an adverb; as, "the piano stands cater-cornered" (diagonally).

From Project Gutenberg

When we did have meals with Oswald, he sat cater-cornered from me.

From Project Gutenberg

I was hurty from head to toe and back again, and crosswise and cater-cornered.

From Project Gutenberg