Added 7 October 2026
direct
/daɪˈɹɛkt/ adjective
In Latin: dīrēctus, prōrsus Wiktionary
adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about direct at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- Proceeding without deviation or interruption.
-
Straight; not crooked, oblique, or circuitous; leading by the short or shortest way to a point or end.
the most direct route between two buildings
- Straightforward; sincere.
adverb
verb
-
To manage, control, steer.
to direct the affairs of a nation or the movements of an army
-
To aim (something) at (something else).
They directed their fire towards the men on the wall.
-
To point out to or show (somebody) the right course or way; to guide, as by pointing out the way; to refer.
He directed me to the left-hand road.
Origin
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”).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)