Make Your Point > Archived Issues > OBLIQUITY

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connect this word to others: Consider how often we call things right, as if they formed a 90-degree angle, or straight, as if they formed a 180-degree angle. And... When something seems sharp, like a small, pointy angle, we call it a__te:    a__te wit,     a__te pain,     a__te shortages,     a__te observations.  And... When something seems dull or stupid, like a large, blunt angle, we call it ob___e:    ob___e tweets,    ob___e headlines,    ob___e comments,    ob___e decisions. And... When something seems sneaky, indirect, or not straightforward, or it leans all sideways and wonky, like an angle placed in any way other than right (90 degrees) or straight (180 degrees), we could call it oblique. Turn oblique into a noun, and you get the graceful word obliquity, which we checked out back in 2015. I want us to revisit this one because I'm pretty sure I've never used it in real life--maybe because I didn't dig deep enough the first time to find its value. That unsettles me. I'm on an expedition here, an expedition to explore and map meanings and connotations and tones, and with obliquity, I came home empty-handed. So I'll try again. Let's compare it to some of its more common synonyms. Obliquity is much rarer than d__iousness, meaning "sneakiness, trickery, dishonesty, or more literally, following a path that winds, strays, or rambles." It's also rarer than _ns_d___usness, which has Latin roots that mean "sitting in," as in "lying in wait, about to trap or attack someone," and means "secrecy, sneakiness, and trickery."  (To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.) make your point with... "OBLIQUITY" This word has Latin roots that literally mean "bent upward against." So, it has all kinds of specific meanings in all kinds of sciences and other fields. We'll focus on general meanings. Something literally oblique is slanted: not vertical, and not horizontal, but veering or tilting away from a straight line. For example, on a keyboard, the slash (/) is an oblique line. And something figuratively oblique is slanted, too: not direct, and not straight to the point. "This poem is hard to understand; I hate all the oblique references in it." So, figuratively speaking, an obliquity is something said or done indirectly (rather than straight to the point). "I hate all these obliquities in this poem."  Or, an obliquity is something said or done in a morally wrong way (rather than a morally "straight" way). "The media accused him of every moral obliquity." This particular sense is rarely used today, so we won't focus on it. So far, we've defined the countable kind of obliquities. And "obliquity" by itself, as a quality, means "deception or indirectness." Pronunciation: oh BLICK wih dee Part of speech: Noun, both the countable kind ("these obliquities") and the uncountable kind ("such obliquity"). Other forms: obliquities; oblique, obliquely; obliquitous How to use it:  With its specific meanings in so many fields, from astronomy to grammar to childbirth to photography and more, the word "obliquity" carries a tone that's calm, academic, and precise. We might talk about literal, physical obliquities. For example, the obliquity of the Earth is how it tilts a bit on its axis, causing the changing seasons. Or, we can be figurative. Use "obliquities" to mean "slanted or indirect things that someone said or did," and talk about an author's obliquities, a speaker's obliquities, the obliquities of conversation or negotiation, etc. Or, use "obliquity" to mean "slantedness, indirectness," and talk about an artist's obliquity, the obliquity of someone's approach or method, a regrettable obliquity, a polite obliquity, etc. examples: In a poem, Emily Dickinson suggested that it's a kindness to reveal truth gradually, through obliquities:      "Tell all the truth but tell it slant —      Success in Circuit lies      Too bright for our infirm Delight      The Truth's superb surprise      As Lightning to the Children eased      With explanation kind      The Truth must dazzle gradually      Or every man be blind —" "The Fed should thus observe the first lesson in coping with complexity: the principle of obliquity. Efforts to impose linear thinking on complex situations typically lead to the opposite of what is intended. Where explicit articulation of a goal will result in the complex environment pushing back in the opposite direction, an oblique approach will often be more effective."    — Steve Denning, Forbes, 24 March 2013 has this page helped you understand "obliquity"? Awesome, I'm glad it helped! Thanks for letting me know! If you have any questions about this word, please message me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. study it: Explain the meaning of "obliquity" without saying "something indirect" or "indirectness." try it out: In a stand-up comedy routine, Aziz Ansari demonstrated that when it comes to receiving bad news, most people prefer directness ("I'm not interested in dating you") over obliquity ("I'm actually busy all this week, sorry"). He added, "We all say we prefer honesty, myself included, but can we really handle honesty, you know?" Talk about why obliquities do or don't bother you when you're hearing unwelcome news. If you like, use this space to write. (To save your work, copy and paste it into an email or a document.) before you review, play: Spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—let your working memory empty out first. This month, we're playing Name Those Synonyms! We're enjoying the gracefully written, ultra-authoritative explanations in Funk & Wagnalls Standard Handbook of Synonyms, Antonyms, and Prepositions. In each issue, check out the passage from the book, and see if you can figure out which synonyms are being distinguished. From the previous issue: What two synonyms (<1> and <2>) does the Handbook distinguish below?  "<1> is 'off-ward,' turned the wrong way; it was anciently used of a back-handed or left-handed blow in battle, of squinting eyes, etc. <2>, on the other hand, signifies benumbed, stiffened with cold; this is the original meaning of <2> fingers, <2> limbs. Thus, <1> primarily refers to action, <2> to condition. A tool, a vehicle, or the human frame may be <2> in shape or build, <1> in motion. The <2> man is almost of necessity <1>, but the <1> man may not be naturally <2>. The finest untrained colt is <1> in harness; a horse that is <2> in build can never be trained out of <1>ness. A/an <1> statement has an uncomfortable, and perhaps recoiling, force; a statement that contains ill-assorted and incongruous material in ill-chosen language is <2>. We speak of a/an <1> predicament, a/an <1> scrape. A/an <1> excuse commonly reflects on the one who offers it. We say the admitted facts have a/an <1> appearance. In none of these cases could <2> be used. <2> is, however, applied to movements that seem as unsuitable as those of benumbed and stiffened limbs. A dancing bear is both <2> and <1>." Answers: <1> is "awkward." <2> is "clumsy." Try this today: What two synonyms (<1> and <2>) does the Handbook distinguish below?  "<1> is, etymologically, an interchange of ideas with some other person or persons. <2> may be wholly one-sided. Many brilliant <2>ers have been incapable of <1>. <2> may denote the mere utterance of words with little thought; thus, we say idle <2>, empty <2>, rather than idle or empty <1>." Bonus challenge: Recall the fine differences between "entertainment" and "recreation." You can view the answer in this issue. review this word: 1. A near opposite of OBLIQUITY is A. ABULIA (an inability to make choices). B. BRIO (a peppy spirit). C. CANDOR (an open honesty). 2. In a review titled "Obliquities," George Dillon accuses a poet of being "too strenuous in her determination to _____." A. unite the old themes with the new B. approach the old themes from new angles C. destroy the old themes with new interpretations 1. C 2. B a final word: I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love. I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words. From my blog:    36 ways to study words.    Why we forget words, & how to remember them.    How to use sophisticated words without being awkward. To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.