sidelongadv.1prep.adj.2
/ˈsʌɪdlɒŋ/, U.S. /ˈsaɪdˌlɔŋ/, /ˈsaɪdˌlɑŋ/ A. adv.1† 3. Along the sides. Obsolete. rare.
1. Towards or from the side; in a sideward direction; sideways, obliquely. Also figurative: indirectly, in a roundabout way.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > inclination > [adverb]
sidelonga1398
aslanta1400
aslopec1400
embelifc1400
a-sloutc1440
sleetc1440
slant1495
obliquely1503
shoringc1503
a-swash1530
biaswise1545
biasways1556
slantingly1570
sideways1572
slantwise1573
avelinges1577
bias?1578
askant1602
slopely1605
slantinga1625
oblique1667
bias-way1702
skew1706
slantly1719
inclinably1760
slantways1828
slantindicular1831
slantindicularly1834
skewly1896
slaunchways1933
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > sideways movement or a sideways movement > [adverb]
sidelonga1398
sidelings?a1400
sidelingc1425
laterallyc1454
collaterally?a1475
sidewarda1513
sidewise1531
byward1556
sideways1572
sidewards1575
sidelingwise1577
crabby1582
crab-like1605
sideway1847
crabwise1904
the world > space > direction > specific directions > [adverb] > in sideways direction
sidelonga1398
sidelings?a1400
sidelingc1425
laterallyc1454
sidewarda1513
sidewise1531
besidec1540
sideway1561
sideways1572
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. v. xxviii. 222 Þe ouer chaynynge haþ þre of þese boones..by þe whiche chaynynge þe hond openeþ and closiþ sidlong [L. lateraliter].
c1475 ( Surg. Treat. in MS Wellcome 564 f. 33v Þer beþ seuene bonys in Thorace & her lenkþe is aftir þe lenkþe of þe brest and þei ben vndirputt side longe.
1540 R. Jonas tr. E. Roesslin Byrth of Mankynde i. f. xv When it [sc. the fœtus] procedeth..sydelong, arselonge, or backelonge.
1574 J. Baret Aluearie S 371 Sidelong or sidewise. Ex obliquo.
1589 ‘Pasquill of England’ Returne of Pasquill sig. Ciij A crooked generation, that loues to swym side-long with the Crabbe.
1602 R. Carew Surv. Cornwall i. f. 10v Their maner of working in the Loadmines, is to follow the Load as it lieth, either sidelong, or downe-right.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost vi. 197 As if..waters forcing way Sidelong, had push't a Mountain from his seat. View more context for this quotation
1718 Free-thinker No. 17. 2 Taking her Hoop in one Hand in a great Fury, she squeezes sidelong thro' a Passage Two Yards wide.
1787 F. Grose Local Prov. in Provinc. Gloss. sig. Q7 Their wearers could not enter (except going sidelong) at any ordinary door.
1816 W. Scott Antiquary III. xi. 235 With these words she sunk back on the settle, and from thence sidelong to the floor.
1867 J. Ruskin Time & Tide x. §58 That blue-lipped serpent—working its way sidelong in the sand.
1887 J. H. Chadwick Whole Truth vii. 75 She had a well-defined purpose in view,..approaching it indirectly and sidelong, as it were.
1912 West Coast Mag. June 322/2 The giant ledge of the Liscarra mines had been broken off and thrown sidelong the full width of the cavern!
1976 National Observer (U.S.) 18 Dec. 19/3 She brings Stephanie to wisdom sidelong.
2004 A. Klavan Shotgun Alley xxxv. 204 He was pitched sidelong through the air, an awful instant out of all control.
2. † b. So as to show the side; side-on. Obsolete. rare.
a. So as to present the side to or toward something; side-on to. Formerly also: †side by side, to the side (of) (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > quality of having sides or being a side > on the side of [preposition] > along or by the side of
alongeOE
alongstc1180
besidesc1200
besidec1275
aboard1449
longs1488
sidelong1577
aside?1615
alongside1704
the world > space > relative position > state or position of being parallel > [adverb] > abreast
side by sidec1275
beside1340
afronta1425
side to side?c1450
sidelingsa1540
abreast1567
evenly1583
breastwise1613
fair1685
sidelong1803
sidlingly1859
the world > space > direction > specific directions > [preposition] > side-on to
sidelong1846
side-on1900
1577 R. Holinshed Chron. II. 1624/1 The enimies were in a fallow field, whereof the fourrowes lay sidelong toward the Englishmen.
1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. i. ii. 57 If the Cloud side-long sit..or iustly opposite To Sunne or Moone.
1643 True Informer 40 The Parliaments Forces were within six miles side-long of him.
1781 W. Mason Eng. Garden iv. 13 Glass rooft the whole, and sidelong to the South.
1803 Edwin III. iii. 49 When..our bands were engaged in war, sidelong we fought.
1846 N. Hawthorne Mosses ii. 164 Seated within the shop, sidelong to the window.
1895 R. Kipling Second Jungle Bk. 203 Each [dog] was fastened sidelong to his neighbour's neck.
1922 H. K. Webster Joseph Greer & his Daughter viii. 434 Snell..was sitting sidelong to the table now and leaning confidentially toward Joe.
1988 E. Friberg tr. Kalevala 207/1 Soon the sleighs will face about, Prows all outward, sterns all houseward, Sidelong to my father's stable, Slantwise to the cattle barn.
2008 B. Markovits Quiet Adjustm. iv. 264 She was sitting in the front room, sidelong to one of the windows that overlooked the broad drive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > direction > specific directions > [adverb] > in sideways direction > side-on
sideling1548
sidelings1558
sidewise1588
sideways1598
sidelong1610
side-on1849
sideways-on1874
1610 J. Guillim Display of Heraldrie vi. v. 264 This forme of Helmet, placed sidelong and close, doth Ger. Leigh attribute to the dignity of Knight.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > quality of having sides or being a side > [adverb] > along the side or by the side
besidec1275
besidesc1275
sidelong1592
alongside1740
1592 R. Dallington tr. F. Colonna Hypnerotomachia f. 19v Which aulter (as I may tearme it) sidelong about, wrought with leaues.
4. † b. With reference to transverse motion along a slope: with one side higher than the other; so as to incline to one side. Obsolete. rare.
a. So as to be lying on one's side; with the side to the ground.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > land > ground > [adverb]
sideOE
on (also at, of, in) lowc1225
agroundc1325
in levela1400
upon shorec1400
at-lowa1500
sidelong1667
à terre1922
the world > space > relative position > quality of having sides or being a side > [adverb] > on the side or with side to the ground
sidelong1667
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost iv. 333 Side-long as they sat recline On the soft downie Bank damaskt with flours. View more context for this quotation
1748 J. Thomson Castle of Indolence i. xl Behoves no more, But sidelong, to the gently-waving wind, To lay the well-tun'd instrument reclin'd.
1757 W. Wilkie Epigoniad iv. 95 He..sidelong on the beach the galley laid.
1870 W. Morris Earthly Paradise: Pt. III 334 Side-long the plough beside the field-gate lay.
1914 Munsey's Mag. Dec. 560/1 A young girl whom Mrs. Vickery had never seen before lay sidelong, singularly beautiful in death.
1982 ‘C. J. Cherryh’ Port Eternity ii. 16 He propped himself up sidelong on his elbow.
2013 K. Manning My Notorious Life (2014) 67 Her hair was damp and she lay sidelong with her knees bent.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > inclination > [adverb] > so as to incline to one side
asidec1369
asidesc1384
asidenc1503
sideling1585
sideways1645
sidewise1762
sidelong1879
baw-ways1907
1879 R. Jefferies Wild Life vi. 119 On the hills where the waggons have to run ‘sidelong’ to pick up the crops one side higher than the other.
In a transverse direction across, athwart; by or along the side of. Obsolete. rare (chiefly poetic in later use).
ΚΠ
?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. xxv Yf she wyll nat stande syde longe all the ewe & gyue her a lytell hey.
1822 W. Scott Halidon Hill i. ii. 69 We'll..descend Sidelong the hill—some winding path there must be.
1920 G. H. Conkling Wilderness Songs 38 The veering duck that lie Sidelong the wind and cry In passing.
C. adj.2
1.
a. Of the ground: inclining, sloping, steep.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > land > landscape > high land > slope > [adjective]
clininga1552
sideling1577
sidelong1587
sideland1771
1587 R. Holinshed et al. Hist. Scotl. (new ed.) 119/2 in Holinshed's Chron. (new ed.) II A deepe riuer compassing them in beneath in the bottome, with such steepe & sidelong [1577 sidelyng] banks, that there is no way to passe foorth of the same.
a1691 R. Baxter Reliquæ Baxterianæ (1696) 82 Once riding upon a great hot-metled Horse, as I stood on a sidelong Pavement in Worcester, the Horse reared up, and both his hinder Feet slipt from under him.
1792 J. Belknap Hist. New-Hampsh. III. 105 In side long ground, the stick by its rolling would overset the sled.
a1802 E. Darwin Temple of Nature (1803) iv. 144 Green sloping lawns construct the sidelong scene.
1838 F. W. Simms Public Wks. Great Brit. 36 The area of any cross section in sidelong ground.
1873 F. Robertson Engin. Notes 48 Sidelong ground must be cut into steps before embanking over it.
1927 E. M. Rhodes Pasó por Aquí iii, in Once in Saddle & Pasó por Aquí 186 The hillsides were impossibly steep and sidelong.
2013 C. R. I. Clayton et al. Earth Pressure & Earth-retaining Struct. (ed. 3) i. 13 Retaining structures are often constructed to retain soil in sidelong ground.
b. More generally: inclining or slanting to one side; oblique, sloping. Also: lying on the side, overturned. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > inclination > [adjective]
embelifc1400
inclining?c1400
oblique?a1425
inclinate?1440
hieldingc1480
inclined?a1500
bias1551
overthwart1594
sidelong1598
squinty1598
skew1609
traverse1609
skewed1611
obliquous1614
squint1703
inclinated1751
slanting1768
slanted1770
slant1776
aslant1791
diagonal1796
rakish1830
slantindicular1832
slantwise1856
slaunchways1913
slanty1928
the world > space > direction > [adjective] > oblique
eavelongc1300
oblique?a1425
obliquida1599
sidelong1598
sideways1684
slanting1688
slant1793
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautification of the person > beautification of the hair > styles of hair > [adjective] > hanging loose
sideOE
untrussed1494
sidelong1598
loose-flowing1777
loosened1798
1598 A. M. tr. J. Guillemeau Frenche Chirurg. 28/4 We must make the apertione sydelonge or contradictorye, when we purpose to iterate the phlebotomye.
1718 N. Rowe tr. Lucan Pharsalia v. 928 This [wave] lays the sidelong Alder on the Main, And that restores the leaning Bark again.
a1771 T. Gray Ess. I in W. Mason Mem. Life & Writings (1775) 199 With side-long plough to quell the flinty ground.
c1830 H. W. Longfellow Spirit of Poetry 30 The..upland where the sidelong sun.., at evening, goes.
1871 F. T. Palgrave Lyrical Poems 36 As he who whilst the side-long vase ran clear Dream'd down whole years in fancy.
2007 A. Theroux Laura Warholic xvi. 223 That canted, phonily estimative, pondering sidelong head—sourcing an angle—that is supposed to indicate a deliberating eye.
2.
a. Directed towards or from the side; lateral, oblique. Of a look, glance, etc.: directed sideways or from the corner of the eye, esp. furtively, or with suspicion or disapproval; askance.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > sideways movement or a sideways movement > [adjective]
sidelingc1155
sidelong1608
sideward?1617
sideway1650
sideways1684
sidelings1768
sidling1821
sidewards1827
sidewinding1867
sidestepping1902
crabwise1904
the world > space > direction > specific directions > [adjective] > having sideways direction
sidelingc1155
sidelong1608
sideward?1617
sideway1650
sidewise1680
sideways1684
side-on1900
sideways-on1964
1608 Bp. J. King Serm. St. Maries Oxf. 2 The comming so neare togither, of two..so great festiuities.., giueth mee so iust an occasion, togither with my principal aime at the one, to haue a collateral, sidelong aspect at the other.
1635 J. Swan Speculum Mundi v. §2. 175 Their motion is a laterall or sidelong motion.
1737 Gentleman's Mag. Sept. 570/2 With a side-long look, Poor William thro' the heart was struck.
1743 P. Francis & W. Dunkin tr. Horace Odes II. iii. xxii. 10 Yearly shall bleed a festal Swine, That meditates the side-long Wound.
1791 W. Cowper tr. Homer Iliad in Iliad & Odyssey I. xxi. 319 With a sidelong sweep Assailing him.
1819 Ld. Byron Don Juan: Canto I clxxiii. 89 Regarding both with slow and sidelong view.
1861 W. M. Thackeray Ogres in Roundabout Papers (1869) 159 He gives a dreadful sidelong glance of suspicion.
1887 H. Caine Son of Hagar iii. i Indicating with a sidelong nod the room to the left.
1921 H. M. Rideout Fern Seed xvi. 188 Rose..put her slender brown finger-tips into this [crack], and gave a sidelong push.
1958 Argosy Sept. 105 Jim Melton was carefully observing the stranger with sidelong glances which were no more impolite than those of a bird.
2005 L. L. Coleman Cimmerian Rage 106 A sidelong thrust hurled the fire into the very middle.
b. That moves or extends sideways or in an oblique direction. Frequently poetic.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > sideways movement or a sideways movement > [adjective] > oblique in motion
embelifc1400
sklenting1568
diagonial1624
slanta1630
biasing1636
slanting1688
sidelong1695
diagonal1796
diagonic1881
the world > space > direction > specific directions > [adjective] > having sideways direction > extending sideways
sidelong1876
1695 P. Hume Annot. Paradise Lost x. 288 The Clouds..kindling the sidelong Lightning in their violent encounter, whose Flame darting across down, fired the uncteous Bark of Fir or Pine.
1817 P. B. Shelley Laon & Cythna iii. xxxiv. 74 Past the pebbly beach the boat did flee On sidelong wing, into a silent cove.
1864 A. C. Swinburne Atalanta 1305 But the sidelong arrow slid.
1876 Ld. Tennyson Harold iii. i. 77 [It] shot out sidelong boughs across the deep.
1907 G. Bottomley Chambers of Imagery 36 No more can pass Than..a sidelong ray From the moon.
1995 L. Pletcher Hiker's Guide New Hampsh. lix. 187 A sidelong jet swirling into a cauldron framed with the gold of autumn.
3. figurative. Indirect, oblique; not explicit, open, or straightforward.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > number > geometry > angle > [adjective] > other
sidelong1654
semirect1656
subtended1759
supplementary1809
explementary1830
reflectional1848
reflex1869
multi-angled1908
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > hiding, concealing from view > keeping from knowledge > indirect action or process > [adjective]
collateralc1374
ambagious?1532
indirect1584
circular1617
squint1619
squinting1648
sidelong1654
circumferentiala1661
circuitous1664
side wind1672
side-winded1696
roundabout1701
side-handed1828
1654 Z. Coke Art of Logick 25 We have seen the direct degrees; now follow the Collateral, or sidelong, which is called Difference.
1697 C. Leslie Snake in Grass (ed. 2) 380 Their side-long Answers, and silly Excuses will not do.
1832 H. Martineau Homes Abroad vi. 82 They did not see the winks, and the side-long smiles.
1852 R. S. Surtees Mr. Sponge's Sporting Tour v. xxv. 145 Hazarding promiscuous sidelong sort of observations, that might be taken up by Jack or not.
1883 Longman's Mag. Nov. 97 A sinister look, which even the Captain could not help noting in a sidelong fashion.
1932 E. Bowen To North x. 98 Cecilia's clothes came in for some sidelong attention.
1960 Times 18 Feb. 15/2 Her undoubtedly brilliant style—even cliché becomes mysteriously chic and sidelong.
2011 A. Parkes Sense of Shock 69 Wilde's intellectual counterpart is similarly inadequate, as Symons intimates in this sidelong response to Lord Henry Wotton.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
† sidelongadv.2adj.1
Obsolete.
A. adv.2
To a great distance or length, far; towards the ground; = side adv.1
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > direction > specific directions > [adverb] > in downward direction > towards the ground
sidelong1563
earthward1646
groundwards1885
1563 W. Fulke Goodle Gallerye Causes Meteors ii. f. 15 A beard hangyng downward, or els with a tayle stretched out sydelong, in lengthe.
1591 E. Spenser Prosopopoia in Complaints sig. M4v And now the Foxe had gotten him a gowne, And th'Ape a cassocke sidelong hanging downe.
B. adj.1
Hanging low, trailing; long; = side adj. 2aQuot. 1575 may alternatively be interpreted as an instance of sidelong adj.2
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > [adjective] > of specific length
foot-sideOE
sideOE
long-side1575
sidelong1575
nock-shorn1632
talarian1671
three-quarter1713
overknee1831
talaric1853
high water1856
ankle-length1876
long1882
hip-length1893
knee-length1895
thigh-length1895
fingertip1920
mid-calf1931
wrist-length1935
floor-length1939
cropped1954
waltz-length1958
two-thirds1963
calf-length1965
midi1968
1575 W. Stevenson Gammer Gurtons Nedle iii. ii. sig. C.iiv Saw ye neuer Fryer Rushe Painted on a cloth, with a side long cowes tayle: And crooked clouen feete.
1576 G. Gascoigne Steele Glas Epil. sig. I.jv They be no boyes, which weare such side long gowns.
1591 E. Spenser tr. J. du Bellay Visions ix, in Complaints sig. Y4 An hideous bodie big and strong I sawe, With sidelong beard.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2016; most recently modified version published online June 2018).
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adv.1prep.adj.2a1398
adv.2adj.11563