diametral

diametrically

adverb dee-ah-meh-TRAHL Rare

Origin: from Greek via Latin 'diametralis'

Usage Note

Diametral appears almost exclusively in the fixed phrase diametral entgegengesetzt ('diametrically opposed'), used to emphasise the greatest possible contrast between two positions. Borrowed from geometry into everyday rhetoric.

Examples

"Ihre Meinungen sind diametral entgegengesetzt."

Natural Translation

Their opinions are diametrically opposed.

Literal Translation

Their opinions are diametrically opposite.

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