aslant, adv. and prep.
(əˈslɑːnt, -æ-)
Forms: 3–5 o-slant(e, 3–4 on-slent, on-slont, aslante, 5 a-slent, 8 aslaunt, 6– aslant.
[f. on (see a prep.1) + slant.]
A. adv.
1. On the slant, in a slanting or sloping direction, obliquely.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 6200 O-slant [v.r. on-slent, on-slont] fra þar þai ware. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xvii. clxxvii. (1495) 718 In vynes the kyttynge shall be aslante. c 1440 Morte Arth. 2254 O-slante doune fro þe slote he slyttes. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 6 A-cyde..a-slet, or a-slonte, Oblique. 1677 Moxon Mech. Exerc. (1703) 208 You must not hold the Blade..parallel to the Pikes, but aslant. 1781 Cowper Truth 239 Blown all aslant, a driving, dashing rain. 1878 R. Jefferies Gamekeeper at H. 113 The shot, if it comes aslant, will glance off. |
2. elliptically, quasi-adj. Slanting, oblique.
| 1790 Cowper Odyss. ix. 435 He..fell resupine With his huge neck aslant. 1814 Southey Roderick iii. Wks. IX. 21 And with ray aslant..illumed the branchless pines. |
3. Comb. aslantwise: aslant.
| 1852 Hawthorne Blithed. Rom. II. xiv. 253 The moon..shone aslantwise over the river. |
B. prep. Across in a slanting direction, athwart.
| 1602 Shakes. Ham. iv. vii. 167 There is a Willow growes aslant a Brooke. 1677 Moxon Mech. Exerc. (1703) 204 The edge of the Chissel..lying aslant the Work. 1854 H. Miller Sch. & Schm. (1858) 438 It sailed aslant our line of buoys. 1877 Page De Quincey II. xix. 176 To run somewhat aslant the ordinary conventionalities of life. |