deviating or departing from the centre. In geometry the term is applied to circles and spheres which have different centres, and consequently are not parallel; as opposed to concentric, or such as have a common centre. In astronomy it denotes the distance of the centre of a planet's orbit from the centre of the sun—or the distance between the centre of an ellipse and its focus. In mechanics the term is applied to any revolving motion of which the axis is not placed in the centre.