Definition of "oblique"

when it has a Direction oblique to that of the former Motion, it is either added to, or subtracted from the former Motion

1725, George Cheyne, Philosophical Principles of Religion, page 16

This mode of oblique research, where a more direct one is denied, we find to be the only one in our power.

1840, Thomas De Quincey, “Style. No. II”, in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, page 387

For the love we bear our friends, / Tho nere so strongly grounded, / Hath in it certain oblique ends / If to the bottome sounded

1630, Michael Drayton, “The Third Nimphall”, in The Muses Elyzium

Then would be closed the restless, oblique eye / That looks for evil, like a treacherous spy

1849, William Wordsworth, “Humanity”, in The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth

His natural affection in a direct line was strong; in an oblique, but weak; for no man ever loved Children more, or a Brother less.

1665, Richard Baker, “The Reign of King Henry the First”, in A Chronicle of the Kings of England, page 49

Leaves long, lanceolate, tapering upward from the middle to an acute point, […] secondaries very oblique, distinct, alternate, parallel, curved in transversing the blade

1892, Leo Lesquereux, The Flora of the Dakota Group, page 78

Oblique and sinker roots will normally be under a greater compression stress than lateral roots.

1997, A. Stokes, D. Guitard, “Tree Root Response to Mechanical Stress”, in Arie Altman, Yoav Waisel, editors, Biology of Root Formation and Development, page 233

In passing from the minor third to unison, the motion ought to be oblique, but from the major third to unison the motion ought to be similar

1837, Allan Cunningham, “Music”, in The Popular Encyclopedia, page 109

Initial inquiries among professional typists uncover names like slant, slant line, slash, and slash mark. Examination of typing instruction manuals discloses additional names such as diagonal and diagonal mark, and other sources provide the designation oblique.

1965, Dmitri A. Borgmann, Language on Vacation, page 240

Other Chaucerian manuscripts had the virgule (or virgil or oblique: /) at the middle of lines.

1990, John McDermott, Punctuation for Now, page 20

he sat upon the edge of his chair […] and achieved a communication with his plate by projecting his person towards it in a line which obliqued from the bottom of his spine

1814, Sir Walter Scott, Waverly