Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Directed to or from one side; not direct: Describes something, especially a look or glance, that is directed sideways rather than straight ahead, often suggesting secrecy, suspicion, or indirectness.
   • Situated at or extending to the side; lateral: Refers to something positioned on the side or extending sideways.

2. Adverb:

   • To, toward, or at one side; sideways: Indicates movement, direction, or positioning in a sideways manner.
   • On the side; in a sidewise position: Describes something lying or placed with its side down or forward.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • She gave him a sidelong glance, full of curiosity and doubt.
  • The tree's sidelong branches stretched out over the fence.
• Adverb:
  • The crab moved sidelong across the wet sand.
  • He placed the book sidelong on the shelf, its spine hidden.

Advanced Usage

• "Sidelong glance/look": A glance directed sideways, often implying a hidden motive, envy, suspicion, or a desire not to be seen looking directly.
  • He stole a sidelong glance at the test paper on the next desk.
• "Sidelong remark": A comment that is indirect, oblique, or hinting at something without stating it plainly.
  • Her seemingly innocent praise was actually a sidelong remark about his earlier mistake.

Variants and Related Words

• Sideways (adv/adj): Similar in meaning to moving or directed to one side. Often used more generally than , which is particularly associated with glances and indirectness.
• Askance (adv): With a side glance; with suspicion, disapproval, or distrust. (e.g., ). This is a close synonym for the adverbial sense of , especially regarding glances.

Synonyms

• Adjective (for glances): Indirect, oblique, covert, furtive.
• Adverb: Sideways, sidewise, laterally, obliquely.

Related Phrases

• Out of the corner of one's eye: A phrase describing seeing something indirectly or with a quick, sidelong look.
  • She saw the movement out of the corner of her eye.
• To look askance: To view with suspicion or skepticism, often with a sidelong glance.
  • The committee looked askance at the unconventional proposal.

Adjective

1. inclining or directed to one side
   • moved downward in a sidelong way - Bram Stoker
2. situated at or extending to the side
   • the lateral branches of a tree
   • shot out sidelong boughs- Tennyson
3. (used especially of glances) directed to one side with or as if with doubt or suspicion or envy
   • her eyes with their misted askance look- Elizabeth Bowen
   • sidelong glances

Adverb

1. to, toward or at one side
   • darting eyes looking sidelong out of a wizened face
2. with the side toward someone or something
   • seated sidelong to the window- Nathaniel Hawthorne
3. on the side
   • the plow lay sidelong on the ground