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an·gle¹

(ănggəl)

intr.v. an·gled, an·gling, an·gles

1. To fish with a hook and line.

2. To try to get something by indirect or artful means: angle for a promotion.

n.
Obsolete

A fishhook or fishing tackle.

[Middle English anglen, from angel, fishhook, from Old English.]

an·gle²

(ănggəl)

1. Mathematics

a. The figure formed by two lines diverging from a common point.

b. The figure formed by two planes diverging from a common line.

c. The rotation required to superimpose either of two such lines or planes on the other.

d. The space between such lines or surfaces.

e. A solid angle.

2. A sharp or projecting corner, as of a building.

a. The place, position, or direction from which an object is presented to view: a building that looks impressive from any angle.

b. An aspect, as of a problem, seen from a specific point of view.

4. Slang A devious method; a scheme.

v. an·gled, an·gling, an·gles

v.tr.

1. To move or turn (something) at an angle: angled the chair toward the window.

2. Sports To hit (a ball or puck, for example) at an angle.

3. Informal To impart a biased aspect or point of view to: angled the story in a way that criticized the candidate.

v.intr.

To continue along or turn at an angle or by angles: The road angles sharply to the left. The path angled through the woods.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin angulus.]

An·gle

(ănggəl)

A member of a Germanic people that migrated to England from southern Jutland in the 5th century AD, founded the kingdoms of Northumbria, East Anglia, and Mercia, and together with the Jutes and Saxons formed the Anglo-Saxon peoples.

[From Latin Anglī, the Angles, of Germanic origin.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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