King James Bible Dictionary

DIRECT, adjective [Latin , to make straight. See Right.]

1. Straight; right; as, to pass in a direct line from one body or place to another. It is opposed to crooked, winding, oblique. It is also opposed to refracted; as a direct ray of light.

2. In astronomy, appearing to move forward in the zodiac, in the direction of the sign; opposed to retrograde; as, the motion of a planet is direct

3. In the line of father and sons; opposed to collateral; as a descendant in the direct line.

4. Leading or tending to an end, as by a straight line or course; not circuitous. Thus we speak of direct means to effect an object; a direct course; a direct way.

5. Open; not ambiguous or doubtful.

6. Plain; express; not ambiguous; as, he said this in direct words; he made a direct acknowledgment.

7. In music, a direct interval is that which forms any kind of harmony on the fundamental sound which produces it; as the fifth, major third and octave.

DIRECT tax, is a tax assess on real estate, as houses and lands.

DIRECT, verb transitive [Latin]

1. To point or aim in a straight line, towards a place or object; as, to direct an arrow or a piece of ordnance; to direct the eye; to direct a course or flight.

2. To point; to show the right road or course; as, he directed me to the left hand road.

3. To regulate; to guide or lead; to govern; to cause to proceed in a particular manner; as, to direct the affairs of a nation.

Wisdom is profitable to direct Ecclesiastes 10:10.

4. To prescribe a course; to mark out a way. Job 37:3.

5. To order; to instruct; to point out a course of proceeding, with authority; to command. But direct is a softer term than command.

DIRECT, noun In music, a character placed at the end of a stave to direct the performer to the first note of the next stave.

DIRECTED, participle passive Aimed; pointed; guided; regulated; governed; ordered; instructed.

DIRECTER, noun A director, which see.

DIRECTING, participle present tense Aiming; pointing; guiding; regulating; governing; ordering.

DIRECTION, noun [Latin]

1. Aim at a certain point; a pointing towards, in a straight line or course; as, the direction of good works to a good end.

2. The line in which a body moves by impulse; course. Matter or body cannot alter the direction of its own motion.

3. A straight line or course. A star appeared int eh direction of a certain tower. The ship sailed in a south-easterly direction

4. The act of governing; administration; management; guidance; superintendence; as the direction of public affairs; direction of domestic concerns; the direction of a bank.

5. Regularity; adjustment.

All chance, direction which thou canst not see.

6. Order; prescription; either verbal or written; instruction in what manner to proceed. The employer gives directions to his workmen; the physician, to his patient.

7. The superscription of a letter, including the name, title and place of abode of the person for whom it is intended.

8. A body or board of directors.

DIRECTIVE, adjective

1. Having the power of direction; as a directive rule.

2. Informing; instructing; shewing way.

DIRECTLY, adverb

1. In a straight lin or course; rectilineally; not in a winding course. Aim directly to the object. Gravity tends directly to the center of the earth.

2. Immediately; soon; without delay; as, he will be with us directly

3. Openly; expressly, without circumlocution or ambiguity, or without a train or inferences.

No man hath been so impious, as directly to condemn prayer.

DIRECTNESS, noun Straightness; a straight course; nearness of way.

DIRECTOR, noun

1. One who directs; one who superintends, governs or manages; one who prescribes to others, by virtue of authority; an instructor; a counselor.

2. That which directs; a rule; an ordinance.

3. One appointed to transact the affairs of a company; as the director of a bank, or of the India Company.

4. That which directs or controls by influence.

Safety from external danger is the most powerful director of national conduct.

5. In surgery, a grooved probe, intended to direct the edge of the knife or scissors in opening sinuses or fistulae; a guide for and incision-knife.

DIRECTORIAL, adjective Pertaining to directors or direction; containing direction or command.

DIRECTORY, adjective Containing directions; enjoining; instructing.

DIRECTORY, noun

1. A guide; a rule to direct; particularly, a book containing directions for public worship, or religious services. The Bible is our best directory in faith and practice.

2. A book containing an alphabetical list of the inhabitants of a city, with their places of abode.

3. The supreme council of France, in the late revolution.

4. A board of directors.

DIRECTRESS, noun A female who directs or manages.

DIRECTRIX, noun A female who governs or directs.