diˈametrally, adv.
[f. prec. + -ly2.]
1. In the way of a diameter; in a line passing through the centre.
| [1486 Bk. St. Albans, Her. F iv b, The lawiste parte extendys to the lawist parte of the shelde dyametralit[er].] 1589 Puttenham Eng. Poesie ii. (Arb.) 111 Ouerthwart and dyametrally from one side of the circle to the other. a 1638 Mede View Apoc. Wks. v. 917 Which Beasts are here said to be ‘in the midst of the Throne’ and ‘round about the Throne’, that is, diametrally placed round about the Throne. 1882 Proctor in Longm. Mag. Dec. 193 Meteoric streamers extending apparently diametrally from the sun. |
† 2. Directly, in a straight line. Obs. (Cf. diametral 1 b.)
| 1604 E. G. D'Acosta's Hist. Indies i. 6 When as the roundnesse of the earth opposeth itselfe diametrally betwixt her [the moon] and the sunne. 1616 Marlowe Faust. iv. 73 Let thy left eye be diametrally [Q. 1604 diametarily] fixed on my right heel. |
† 3. a. lit. = diametrically 2 a. Obs.
| 1563 Fulke Meteors (1640) 376 The center..of the Rayne⁓bow is Diametrally opposite to the center [of the Sun]. 1594 Blundevil Exerc. iii. i. xv. (ed. 7) 307 The Moone [is] said to be diametrally opposite to the Sunne..When a right line drawne from the Center of the Sunne, to the Center of the Moon, passeth thorow the Center of the earth. 1652 Gaule Magastr. 4 a, There are yet in Heaven two Stars Diametrally opposite one to the other. |
† b. fig. = diametrically 2 b. Obs.
| c 1532 G. Du Wes Introd. Fr. in Palsgr. 1077 Coldenes and drinesse..ben diametrally opposite and contrary to hete and moisture. 1630 Prynne Anti-Armin. 2 Diametrally repugnant to the anciently established..Doctrine. 1647 Cudworth Serm. on 1 S. John ii. 3–4 One that should encourage that..which is diametrally opposite to God's..Being. |