How Do You Spell CATER-CORNERED?

Pronunciation: [kˈe͡ɪtəkˈɔːnəd] (IPA)

Cater-cornered, or catty-cornered, is an idiom used to describe something that is diagonal or situated at an angle. The spelling of this word may seem confusing at first, but it follows a consistent pattern in American English. The pronunciation is /ˈkæt̬.iˈkɔːr.nɚd/, with the emphasis on the second syllable. The word is derived from the phrase "cat and corner" which refers to a diagonal line. The spelling may vary between cater-cornered and catty-cornered, but both are generally accepted as correct.

CATER-CORNERED Meaning and Definition

1. "Cater-cornered" is an adjective used to describe a diagonal or oblique orientation or arrangement. It refers to something that is positioned diagonally across from or at an angle to another object or location. This term is commonly used to describe the arrangement of buildings, streets, or objects in a diagonal pattern, rather than in a straight or parallel configuration.

   The term "cater-cornered" derives from the word "cater," which means "to set or move diagonally," and "corner," which refers to the point or angle where two lines or surfaces meet.

   For example, if two buildings are located on opposite corners of an intersection and have their respective front facades facing each other diagonally across the street, they would be described as "cater-cornered" to each other. Similarly, if an object is placed in such a way that it forms a diagonal line from one corner of a room to another, it can be said to be positioned in a cater-cornered manner.

   In summary, "cater-cornered" is a term used to describe a diagonal or oblique arrangement or orientation of objects, buildings, or streets in relation to each other.

Common Misspellings for CATER-CORNERED

• xater-cornered
• vater-cornered
• fater-cornered
• dater-cornered
• czter-cornered
• cster-cornered
• cwter-cornered
• cqter-cornered
• carer-cornered
• cafer-cornered
• cager-cornered
• cayer-cornered
• ca6er-cornered
• ca5er-cornered
• catwr-cornered
• catsr-cornered
• catdr-cornered
• catrr-cornered
• cat4r-cornered

Etymology of CATER-CORNERED

The term "cater-cornered" (also spelled "catty-cornered" or "kitty-cornered") originated from the phrase "cater corner" or "cat a corner", which appeared in the late 16th or early 17th century in England. The word "cater" in this context means diagonally or obliquely. It comes from the Latin word "quadratum", meaning "square", which was used in medieval Latin to describe the diagonal or crosswise position of something. The word "corner" refers to the angular or diagonal position as well. Over time, the phrase evolved into "cater-cornered" to refer to something positioned diagonally or at an angle.

Similar spelling word for CATER-CORNERED

• catercorner.