cater-cornered
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective: Situated diagonally opposite; not directly across or beside, but at an angle across an intersection or space.
Usage
- The word cater-cornered is used to describe the relative position of two objects, typically buildings or plots of land, that are diagonally across from each other, often at a four-way intersection.
- It is a predicate adjective, often used after a linking verb like "is" or "was," or can directly modify a noun.
- Common prepositions used with it are "from" and "across."
Examples
- "The pharmacy is cater-cornered from the post office."
- "They built their new house cater-cornered across the field from the old barn."
- "We live in the cater-cornered house at the intersection of Maple and Pine."
Advanced Usage
- The term is often used in descriptions of urban or rural layouts to give a precise spatial relationship that "across from" or "next to" does not convey.
- It can imply a sense of informal proximity or a specific visual alignment.
Variants and Related Words
- Catty-corner (adj., adv.): A common variant with identical meaning.
- Kitty-corner (adj., adv.): Another common variant, especially in certain regions.
- Diagonally (adv.): The standard adverb meaning "in a diagonal direction or position." (e.g., "The bank sits diagonally from the library.")
Synonyms
- Diagonal
- Kitty-corner (as a variant)
- Catty-corner (as a variant)
Related Phrases
- Cater-corner across: A reinforcing phrase emphasizing the diagonal positioning.
- "The park is cater-cornered across the street from the school."
Adjective
- slanted across a polygon on a diagonal line
- set off in a catty-corner direction across the vacant lot