Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Direct?

\Di*rect"\, a. [L. directus, p. p. of dirigere to direct: cf. F. direct. See {Dress}, and cf. {Dirge}.] 1. Straight; not crooked, oblique, or circuitous; leading by the short or shortest way to a point or end; as, a direct line; direct means. What is direct to, what slides by, the question. --Locke. 2. Straightforward; not of crooked ways, or swerving from truth and openness; sincere; outspoken. Be even and direct with me. --Shak. 3. Immediate; express; plain; unambiguous. He nowhere, that I know, says it in direct words. --Locke. A direct and avowed interference with elections. --Hallam. 4. In the line of descent; not collateral; as, a descendant in the direct line. 5. (Astron.) In the direction of the general planetary motion, or from west to east; in the order of the signs; not retrograde; -- said of the motion of a celestial body. {Direct action}. (Mach.) See {Direct-acting}. {Direct discourse} (Gram.), the language of any one quoted without change in its form; as, he said ``I can not come;'' -- correlative to {indirect discourse}, in which there is change of form; as, he said that he could not come. They are often called respectively by their Latin names, {oratio directa}, and {oratio obliqua}. {Direct evidence} (Law), evidence which is positive or not inferential; -- opposed to {circumstantial, or indirect, evidence}. -- This distinction, however, is merely formal, since there is no direct evidence that is not circumstantial, or dependent on circumstances for its credibility. --Wharton. {Direct examination} (Law), the first examination of a witness in the orderly course, upon the merits. --Abbott. {Direct fire} (Mil.), fire, the direction of which is perpendicular to the line of troops or to the parapet aimed at. {Direct process} (Metal.), one which yields metal in working condition by a single process from the ore. --Knight. {Direct tax}, a tax assessed directly on lands, etc., and polls, distinguished from taxes on merchandise, or customs, and from excise.
\Di*rect"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Directed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Directing}.] 1. To arrange in a direct or straight line, as against a mark, or towards a goal; to point; to aim; as, to direct an arrow or a piece of ordnance. 2. To point out or show to (any one), as the direct or right course or way; to guide, as by pointing out the way; as, he directed me to the left-hand road. The Lord direct your into the love of God. --2 Thess. iii. 5. The next points to which I will direct your attention. --Lubbock. 3. To determine the direction or course of; to cause to go on in a particular manner; to order in the way to a certain end; to regulate; to govern; as, to direct the affairs of a nation or the movements of an army. I will direct their work in truth. --Is. lxi. 8. 4. To point out to with authority; to instruct as a superior; to order; as, he directed them to go. I 'll first direct my men what they shall do. --Shak. 5. To put a direction or address upon; to mark with the name and residence of the person to whom anything is sent; to superscribe; as, to direct a letter. Syn: To guide; lead; conduct; dispose; manage; regulate; order; instruct; command.
\Di*rect"\, v. i. To give direction; to point out a course; to act as guide. Wisdom is profitable to direct. --Eccl. x. 10.
\Di*rect"\, n. (Mus.) A character, thus [?], placed at the end of a staff on the line or space of the first note of the next staff, to apprise the performer of its situation. --Moore (Encyc. of Music).
\Di*rect"\, a. (Political Science) Pertaining to, or effected immediately by, action of the people through their votes instead of through one or more representatives or delegates; as, direct nomination, direct legislation.