All 5 Uses of
direct
in
The Great Gatsby
- His eyes, meanwhile, roved very slowly all around the room — he completed the arc by turning to inspect the people directly behind.
p. 71..4 (definition 1) *directly = close (without anything in between)
- It was indirectly due to Cody that Gatsby drank so little.
p. 100..8 (definition 2) *indirectly = in a complicated, non-obvious mannerstandard prefix: The prefix "in-" in indirectly means not and reverses the meaning of directly. This is the same pattern you see in words like invisible, incomplete, and insecure.
- The man bending over her is her director.
p. 105..1 (definition 3)director = person in chargestandard suffix: The suffix "-or" often converts a verb to a noun that means "a person who." This is the pattern you see in words like actor, editor, and visitor.
- Almost the last thing I remember was standing with Daisy and watching the moving-picture director and his Star.
p. 106..9 (definition 3) *director = person in charge of making a filmstandard suffix: The suffix "-or" often converts a verb to a noun that means "a person who." This is the pattern you see in words like actor, editor, and visitor.
- I drove from the station directly to Gatsby's house and my rushing anxiously up the front steps was the first thing that alarmed any one.
p. 161..9 (definition 4) *directly = straight (without delay or interruption)
Definitions:
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(1) (direct as in: directly above; or buy direct from) straight (exactly where stated); or without involvement of anything in betweenThe exact meaning of this sense of direct is subject to its context. For example:
- "The road runs directly to Las Vegas." -- straight (without varying from a straight line)
- "It was a direct hit." -- exact
- "The plant is in direct sunlight." -- unobstructed (without anything in between)
- "She wants a direct meeting with him." -- personal (without other people in between)
- "She paid direct attention to what he was reading." -- close
- "a direct gaze" -- straight, steady, or focused--not a brief glance taken while generally looking at other things; not a sideways look
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(2) (direct as in: was direct in my instructions) straightforward (uncomplicated or simple -- perhaps also indicating openness and honesty, or little concern for others' feelings)
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(3) (direct as in: directed the movie) supervise, control, or to be in charge of
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(4) (direct as in: depart directly) without delay, or in the quickest manner, or without going somewhere else firsteditor's notes: You may see the term direct flight used in a technical manner that is not as quick as a non-stop flight. In technical usage, a direct flight from Los Angeles to New York could stop at a city on the way, but you would not get off the plane during the stop.