Only slightly connected to or relevant to the main topic; diverging from the central point or going off on a side track. Describes something that touches the subject but doesn't engage with its core.
From Latin 'tangens' (touching), from 'tangere' (to touch). In geometry, a tangent line touches a circle at exactly one point without crossing it, giving us the metaphor for something that barely touches the main subject.
Tangential = 'tan-gent-ial' — like a tangent line in geometry that just touches the circle and veers off. Tangential comments touch your topic briefly then zoom off in another direction, leaving your audience wondering how you got there!
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