— diagonally , adv.
/duy ag"euh nl, -ag"nl/ , adj.
1. Math.
a. connecting two nonadjacent angles or vertices of a polygon or polyhedron, as a straight line.
b. extending from one edge of a solid figure to an opposite edge, as a plane.
2. having an oblique direction.
3. having oblique lines, ridges, markings, etc.
n.
4. a diagonal line or plane.
5. virgule.
6. a diagonal row, part, pattern, etc.
7. Manège. (of a horse at a trot) the foreleg and the hind leg, diagonally opposite, which move forward simultaneously.
8. See diagonal cloth .
9. Math. a set of entries in a square matrix running either from upper left to lower right (main diagonal or principal diagonal) or lower left to upper right (secondary diagonal) .
10. Chess. one of the oblique lines of squares on a chessboard: He advanced his bishop along the open diagonal.
[ 1535-45; diagonalis diagón ( ios ) from angle to angle (see DIA-, -GON) + L -alis -AL 1 ]