See Also: Direct(medicine)
direct tax(dictionary)
direct(dictionary)
direct(2)(dictionary)
direct(1)(dictionary)
DIRECT(law)
Direct claim(finance)
Direct paper(money)
Direct placement(money)
Direct quote(money)

direct (iou)



direct verb. Pa. pple directed, (earlier) direct. LME.
[Latin directus pa. pple of dirigere, derigere straighten, direct, guide from di- DI-1, DE- 1 + regere put straight, rule.]
verb trans. Formerly, send (a letter etc.) especially to someone. Now, write on the outside of (a letter etc.) a name and address for delivery (to a recipient). LME.
Ld Houghton Lady Ellesmere's letter missed me altogether, although directed as I desired.
b. verb trans. Dedicate (a book etc.) to. LME-E17.
c. verb intrans. Write to a person (at an address). E18.
Dickens You may direct to me..at 18 York Place.
verb trans. Address (spoken words) to someone. arch. LME.
Hobbes To whom the Speech is directed.
b. Give (an injunction, command, etc.) to. LME-M17.
verb trans. Cause to move in or take a specified direction; turn towards a specified destination or target; aim (a missile, a remark, etc.) at or against; turn to an aim or purpose. LME.
J. R. Green The efforts of the French monarchy had been directed to the conquest of Italy. B. Jowett Everybody's eyes were directed towards him. G. Greene He directed at her his whole technique of appeasement. D. Barnes The doctor..directed his steps back to the cafe.
b. Inform or guide (a person) as to the way; show or tell (a person) the way (to). E17.
J. B. Priestley A turning at the bottom of this main street directed me to the Playhouse. J. Rathbone Rubin now directed me firmly up the wide stairs.
verb trans. Regulate the course of; guide with advice. LME.
Shakespeare Merchant of Venice Some god direct my judgment!
b. verb trans. Conduct (a musical performance). L19.
c. verb trans. & intrans. Supervise and control the acting of (a film, play, etc.); guide and train (an actor) in performing a role. E20.
verb trans. Keep in proper order; control, govern the actions or movements of. E16.
D. du Maurier Something other than blind emotion directed her actions. F. Astaire A lone M.P. in the middle of the cross streets, directing traffic.
a. verb trans. Give authoritative instructions to; order (a person) to do, (a thing) to be done; order the performance of. M16.
W. Lithgow He made fast the door as he was directed.
b. verb intrans. Give instructions; command that. M17.
H. Wilson The ability of the prime minister to direct that such and such an issue shall go straight to Cabinet.
directable adjective able to be directed L19.
directedness noun the quality of being directed E20.
direc'tee noun a person who is directed or under direction E20.