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endwise

endwise

7.1
One end points in a particular direction when you hold or move the object this way
  • adverb
  • /ˈɛndˌwaɪz/
translation icon : de canto
  • The carpenter positioned the board endwise to make it easier to cut.

Examples

  • And I felt all the malenky little hairs on my plott... standing endwise.

  • She arranged the logs endwise so they would fit neatly in the woodpile.

  • The T-1000 turns its wrist and tries again, slipping the gun endwise through the gap.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • He placed the vase endwise on the shelf to showcase its elegant design.

Synonyms

vertically
vsendwise
32 1.8

In a straight line up and down

is broader and also covers motion along the length or end orientation
lengthwise
vsendwise
7 3.0

Along the longest side of something

also applies to standing straight up or having an end face a direction
uprightly
vsendwise
1 4.3

Sitting or standing with the body straight and vertical

can instead mean along the length or with an end facing a direction
endways
vsendwise
  • UK
7.8

With the end pointing forward along the length of something

is broader and also covers standing straight up or general end orientation
lengthways
vsendwise
  • UK
3.4

Along the longest side of something

can instead mean standing straight up or having an end point a way
longways
vsendwise
  • UK
3.7

Along the long side of something

also refers to upright positions or to ends pointing a direction
longwise
vsendwise
4.6

Along the longer side of something

can also mean standing upright or having an end oriented a way

Antonyms

1 6.6

To the side or at an angle

Surface Forms

endwise positive

Morphology

endwise = end (transparent) = end + wise

Formed by the productive adverb-forming suffix '-wise' attached to the noun 'end', giving the straightforward meaning 'in the direction or manner of the end'.

Etymology

The word endwise comes from the simple word end and the little ending -wise, which means 'in the direction of', just like in lengthwise or clockwise. So to move something endwise is to put or carry it 'with the end first' or 'along its length', which is why the word means placing something by its end.