bilateral, a.
(baɪˈlætərəl)
[f. bi- prefix2 1, 6 + lateral, f. L. later- (nom. latus) side.]
a. Of, pertaining to, affecting, or arranged upon two sides; disposed on opposite sides of an axis.
| 1775 Ash, Bilateral, Having two sides, both by the father and mother's side. 1854 H. Miller Footpr. Creat. ix. (1874) 162 That bilateral symmetry of the skeleton. |
b. Law. Pertaining to or affecting two parties.
| 1818 Colebrooke Obligations I. 16 Contracts are either unilateral or bilateral. 1850 Alison Hist. Europe V. xxvii. §99. 78 Bound to perform the other side of the bilateral engagement. |
c. Pertaining to or concerning two countries (only), esp. of the trade and financial agreements made between them. Cf. multilateral a.
| 1935 Economist 2 Feb. 279/2 Those countries with which bilateral trade agreements have been concluded. 1937 Sunday Times 24 Jan. 19/3 The Duce now pins his faith to bi-lateral agreements. |
d. Educ. Of a secondary school or its educational system: providing two of the three possible types of course (‘grammar’, ‘modern’, or ‘technical’).
| 1947 Min. Educ. Circular CXLIV. 1/2 Combinations of two or more types of secondary education are often referred to as bilateral, multilateral or comprehensive... A bilateral school means one which is organised to provide for any two of the three main elements of secondary education, i.e. modern, technical or grammar. 1957 Economist 12 Oct. 103/1 Surrey is developing many grammar school courses in ‘bilateral schools’. |
Hence biˈlaterally adv., in a bilateral manner, on both sides. biˈlateraˌlism, bilateˈrality, biˈlateralness, bilateral condition, arrangement on opposite sides of an axis.
| 1852 Todd Cycl. Anat. & Phys. IV. 850/1 The idea of bilateralism is by no means included in our definition of symmetry. 1949 Times 10 Sept., Bilateralism..has acquired a special meaning from..recent trade and financial agreements between this country and other individual countries..marked by two main principles: (1) that an equal value of trade on each side is aimed at; (2) that the proceeds of each country's exports can be spent only in the country concerned. 1959 Times Rev. Industry Sept. 100/2 Bilateralism..aims at securing a market for each of the partners' products. 1884 W. James in Mind Apr. 282 Neither rightness nor leftness, except through bi-laterality. 1901 G. N. Calkins Protozoa vi. 172 In Dileptus..where bilaterality and asymmetry are well established. 1849 Murchison Siluria App. D. 540 Growing bilaterally and branching regularly. 1875 Poste Gaius i. (ed. 2) Introd. 8 A judgement may be bilaterally penal..may both impoverish the defendant and enrich the plaintiff. 1880 Nature XXI. 262 The phenomenon of bilateralness in the prothallia of ferns. |