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.
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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.
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Di*rect" (?), v. i.
To give direction; to point out a course; to act as guide.
Wisdom is profitable to direct.
Eccl. x. 10.
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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).
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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.
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