oblique

Oblique derives from the Latin obliquus, meaning slanting or at an angle. In common usage, oblique describes lines, directions, or surfaces that are not perpendicular or parallel to a reference, as well as expressions that are indirect or evasive.

In geometry, an oblique line is any line that is not perpendicular to a given reference line or plane. An oblique angle is an angle that is not a right angle. Oblique projection is a type of parallel projection used in technical drawing and computer graphics to create a slanted view of an object, often with depth scaled unevenly, as in cabinet or cavalier projections.

In anatomy, the oblique muscles are those with fibers running obliquely to the midline; the principal examples are the external oblique and internal oblique muscles of the abdomen.

In typography, oblique type is a slanted form of a font that preserves the same letter shapes as the upright version, while italic type typically entails a more distinct change in letter form. In linguistics, oblique case is a grammatical case used for non-nominative arguments in some languages.

In general usage, oblique can also describe indirectness or a non-straight approach, including oblique questions or remarks that do not state something directly.