α. see edge n. and -way comb. form.
β. see edge n. and -ways comb. form.
γ. see edge n. and -wise comb. form.
edge-waysedge-wiseadv.
1. figurative.1664 H. More Apol. in Modest Enq. Myst. Iniquity 538 This Objection is set edge-wise, and seems to stand..in a very dangerous posture.1677 R. Gilpin Dæmonol. Sacra iii. xvii. 133 Sometime a Scripture will be set so Cross or edg-way to their Good and Comfort.
a. Of position: With the edge (instead of the broad surface) uppermost, foremost, or turned towards the spectator.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > surface > [adverb] > with narrow surface uppermost
edgeling?a1400
arris-wise1437
edge-ways1566
arris-ways1688
1566 in E. Peacock Eng. Church Furnit. (1866) 73 Alter stones ij—one is broke..thother yet standeth edgewaie in the grownd.
a1642 H. Best Farming & Memorandum Bks. (1984) 133 They layd them [sc. fir deals] edg-wayes.
1715 J. T. Desaguliers tr. N. Gauger Fires Improv'd 160 The Partition Plates must be..fix'd edgewise to the great Plate.
1723 London Gaz. No. 6156/4 One of his fore Teeth..standing edgeway.
1775 R. B. Sheridan Rivals v. iii I'll stand edge~ways.
1857 S. Birch Hist. Anc. Pottery (1858) II. 303 Curved bricks set edgeways in a thick slip of the material.
1879 S. Newcomb & E. S. Holden Astron. for Schools & Coll. 358 At certain times the rings of Saturn are seen edgeways.
1885 H. J. Stonor in Law Times 80 119/1 The ladder..standing edgeways.
b. Edge to edge.
ΚΠ
1850 J. Greenwood Sailor's Sea-bk. 121 Each is composed of..deals..bolted together edgewise.
2.
a. Of motion: With the edge foremost.
ΚΠ
1794 S. Vince in Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 85 44 When they [the planes] move edge-ways.
1828 W. Scott Fair Maid of Perth v, in Chron. Canongate 2nd Ser. II. 156 The savage raised the axe..and brought it down again edgeways.
b. figurative in to get a word, etc. in edgeways, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > interruption > interrupt or interpose [verb (intransitive)]
chop in1550
to speak in a man's cast1580
to break through1659
interpose1667
interrupt1667
to break in1705
to catch up1764
to get ina1774
to strike in1791
to get a word, etc. in edgeways1824
1780 R. B. Sheridan School for Scandal ii. ii. 19 All her words appear to slide out edgeways.
1824 M. R. Mitford Our Village I. 108 As if it were possible for any of us to slide in a word edgewise.
1854 S. Hale Lett. (1918) i. 9 Mrs. Otis herself talked all the time, so there was no room for me to get in a word edgewise.
1863 C. Kingsley Water-babies vii. 259 She was running on, while Tom tried to get in a word edgeways.
1870 W. Morris Earthly Paradise: Pt. IV 206 At the last [he] pushed in his word Edgewise, as 'twere.
2006 Company Nov. 91/1 The first thing that hits me is this guy can talk. In fact, it's a good half an hour before I get a word in edgeways.
3. On the edge (instead of the broad side).
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > surface > [adverb] > with narrow surface uppermost > on the narrow surface
edge-ways1791
1791 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse §239 The sea acting edgewise upon the joint would exert the same power to lift it up.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1891; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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adv.1566