CATERCORNERED Meaning and
Definition
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Catercornered, also spelled as "catercorner" or "catty-cornered," is an adjective that describes the positioning or orientation of objects or locations in a diagonal or oblique direction, rather than being parallel or perpendicular to each other.
The term is often used to refer to two things that are located at opposite corners or angles of a square or rectangular shape. For example, if two individuals are sitting at a table and positioned in such a way that they are diagonally across from each other, they can be described as being catercornered to one another.
This directional term can also apply to buildings or streets that are situated diagonally across from each other, rather than being directly opposite. For instance, if a house on one street faces a house on the adjacent street, instead of facing it head-on, they would be considered catercornered.
The word "catercornered" is derived from the French word "quatre," meaning four, and the word "corner," denoting an angle or corner. It was first used in the mid-19th century and has remained in usage ever since.
Overall, "catercornered" highlights the oblique or diagonal positioning of objects or locations in relation to each other, indicating a departure from the typical straight or right-angled arrangement.
Common Misspellings for CATERCORNERED
- catacornered
- catercornerd
- catercorner
- xatercornered
- vatercornered
- fatercornered
- datercornered
- cztercornered
- cstercornered
- cwtercornered
- cqtercornered
- carercornered
- cafercornered
- cagercornered
- cayercornered
- ca6ercornered
- ca5ercornered
- catwrcornered
- catsrcornered
- catdrcornered
Etymology of CATERCORNERED
The word "catercornered" (also spelled "cater-cornered" or "catty-cornered") is derived from the combination of two words: "cat" and "corner". The term is believed to have originated in 19th-century America, particularly in the southern dialects of the United States.
The first element, "cat", refers to a diagonal movement, similar to the way a cat might move in a diagonal direction. It is believed to come from the Old English word "catt" or the Germanic word "kett", both meaning "to move stealthily" or "move like a cat".
The second element, "corner", is self-explanatory and refers to the meeting point of two lines or edges. The term is derived from the Old French word "corne" meaning "horn", as corners were often depicted as where two lines meet, resembling the shape of a horn.
