line of direction
Preserved but no longer current.
The line in which a body moves, a force acts, or motion is communi- cated. In order that a body may stand without falling, a line let down from the centre of gravity must fall within the base on which the object stands. Thus the leaning tower of Pisa does not fall, because this rule is pre- served.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “line of direction” mean?
The line in which a body moves, a force acts, or motion is communi- cated. In order that a body may stand without falling, a line let down from the centre of gravity must fall within the base on which the object stands. Thus the leaning tower of Pisa does not fall, because this rule is pre- served.
Is “line of direction” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.