Lat. A line; line of descent. See Line. Linea obliqua. In the civil law. The oblique line. More commonly termed “linea transversahs^Tiinea recta. The direct line; the vertical line. In computing degrees of kindred and the succession to estates, this term denotes the direct line of ascendants and descendants. Where a person springs from another immediately, or mediately through a third person, they are said to be in the direct line, (linea recta,) and are called “ascendants” and “descendants.” Mackeld. Rom. Law,