obliquity noun. [ǝ'blɪkwɪti] LME.
[Old & mod. French obliquité from Latin obliquitas, from obliquus OBLIQUE adjective: see -ITY.]
1. The quality of being oblique in direction, position, or form; (degree or extent of) inclination at an oblique angle to a line or plane. LME.
■ C. Darwin The obliquity of the eye, which is proper to the Chinese and Japanese.

2. fig.
a. Divergence from right conduct or thought; perversity, aberration; an instance of this. arch. LME.
■ Donne The perversnesse and obliquity of my will.
■ Gladstone Mr. Ward evinces the same thorough one-sidedness and obliquity of judgment.
b. Indirectness in action, speech, etc.; a way or method that is not direct or straightforward. E17.
■ James Mill The obliquities of Eastern negotiation wore out the temper of Lally.
■ A. Brookner A mild and subtle influence compounded of glancing opinions, smiling obliquities, tender and persuasive flatteries.
c. Deviation from a rule or order. rare. M17-M18.

■ obliquitous adjective characterized by obliquity M19.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲