Obliqueness

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The property of having an angle that is neither parallel nor perpendicular, along with the tendency to express thoughts in a roundabout or non-confrontational manner, creates complexity in understanding
2. The state of being angled rather than straight or right-angled ; a manner of communicating that avoids directness or straightforwardness
3. Having an inclined or slanted position ; using language or actions that are not straightforward but rather circuitous or evasive

Etymology: "Obliqueness" is a plain English compound: the adjective "oblique" with the suffix "-ness", which turns a quality into a noun. The adjective itself came into English from Latin "obliquus", meaning slanting or sideways, and the root idea of deviation from a straight line has stayed attached to it ever since. The noun shows the same pattern as "happiness" or "darkness", and its suffix traces back through Old English "-nes" to ancient Germanic roots. The word's meaning has grown from the geometric to the social. Its first sense describes things physically set at an angle, such as a slanted surface or a line that is neither parallel nor perpendicular. The figurative sense, a manner of speech that avoids directness, builds on the same image: a remark that approaches its point from an angle rather than striking it head-on.

Synonyms: indirectness, deviation, slant, tilt, curvature

Antonyms: straightness, directness, honesty, openness, clarity