direct
/daɪˈɹɛkt/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: 4.91 in modern English
9
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
adj
Proceeding without deviation or interruption.
adj
Straight; not crooked, oblique, or circuitous; leading by the short or shortest way to a point or end.
adj
adj
adj
In the line of descent; not collateral.
adj
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.
adj
Pertaining to, or effected immediately by, action of the people through their votes instead of through one or more representatives or delegates.
adj
Example Sentences
- "the most direct route between two buildings"
- "Be even and direct with me."
- "He nowhere, that I know, says it in direct words."
- "Nor did the government scruple a direct and avowed interference with elections."
- "a descendant in the direct line"
- "direct nomination; direct legislation"
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin dīrēctus, perfect passive participle of dīrigō (“straighten, direct”), from dis- (“asunder, in pieces, apart, in two”) + regō (“make straight, rule”). Compare dress. Doublet of derecho. For the meaning development compare with Russian напра́вить (naprávitʹ, “to direct, to turn, to aim, to level, to point”), отпра́вить (otprávitʹ, “to send, to dispatch, to forward”) connected with пра́вить (právitʹ, “to govern, to rule, to drive, to steer”).
Origin
- Source language: Latin
Word Breakdown
- Root: *h₃reǵ-, dīrēctus
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /daɪˈɹɛkt/
- British English: /daɪˈɹɛkt/
Usage
Inflected Forms
more direct (comparative)
most direct (superlative)
directs (present, singular)
directing (participle, present)
directed (participle, past)
directed (past)