All 45 Uses of
direct
in
Jane Eyre
- Miss Abbot, lend me your garters; she would break mine directly.
Chpt 2 (definition 1)directly = in a short time
- I was spared the trouble of answering, for Bessie seemed in too great a hurry to listen to explanations; she hauled me to the washstand, inflicted a merciless, but happily brief scrub on my face and hands with soap, water, and a coarse towel; disciplined my head with a bristly brush, denuded me of my pinafore, and then hurrying me to the top of the stairs, bid me go down directly, as I was wanted in the breakfast-room.
Chpt 4 (definition 1)directly = immediately
- Humility is a Christian grace, and one peculiarly appropriate to the pupils of Lowood; I, therefore, direct that especial care shall be bestowed on its cultivation amongst them.
Chpt 4 (definition 2)direct = instruct
- In turning a leaf she happened to look up, and I said to her directly — "Is your book interesting?"
Chpt 5 (definition 1)directly = immediately
- The lady who built the new part of this house as that tablet records, and whose son overlooks and directs everything here.
Chpt 5 (definition 3)directs = supervises (is in charge of)
- Tell all the first form to rise up and direct their faces to the wall.
Chpt 7 (definition 4)direct = turn towards
- To this end, I had sat well back on the form, and while seeming to be busy with my sum, had held my slate in such a manner as to conceal my face: I might have escaped notice, had not my treacherous slate somehow happened to slip from my hand, and falling with an obtrusive crash, directly drawn every eye upon me; I knew it was all over now, and, as I stooped to pick up the two fragments of slate, I rallied my forces for the worst.
Chpt 7 (definition 1)directly = immediately
- Of course they did; for I felt their eyes directed like burning-glasses against my scorched skin.
Chpt 7 (definition 4)directed = focused
- You must enclose the advertisement and the money to pay for it under a cover directed to the editor of the Herald;
Chpt 10 (definition 4)directed = addressed (with a written address)
- With earliest day, I was up: I had my advertisement written, enclosed, and directed before the bell rang to rouse the school;
Chpt 10 (definition 4)
- "That is my little boy," said Bessie directly.
Chpt 10 (definition 1)directly = immediately
- After breakfast, Adele and I withdrew to the library, which room, it appears, Mr. Rochester had directed should be used as the schoolroom.
Chpt 11 (definition 2)directed = instructed
- I think he was swearing, but am not certain; however, he was pronouncing some formula which prevented him from replying to me directly.
Chpt 12 (definition 1)directly = immediately
- Having once caught the bridle, he mastered it directly and sprang to his saddle; grimacing grimly as he made the effort, for it wrenched his sprain.
Chpt 12 (definition 1)
- You have lived the life of a nun: no doubt you are well drilled in religious forms; — Brocklehurst, who I understand directs Lowood, is a parson, is he not?
Chpt 13 (definition 3)directs = supervises (is in charge of)
- And you girls probably worshipped him, as a convent full of religieuses would worship their director.
Chpt 13 (definition 3) *director = supervisor (person in charge)standard 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 did as I was bid, though I would much rather have remained somewhat in the shade; but Mr. Rochester had such a direct way of giving orders, it seemed a matter of course to obey him promptly.
Chpt 14 (definition 5)direct = clear
- "By my word! there is something singular about you," said he: "you have the air of a little nonnette; quaint, quiet, grave, and simple, as you sit with your hands before you, and your eyes generally bent on the carpet (except, by-the-bye, when they are directed piercingly to my face; as just now, for instance);"
Chpt 14 (definition 4)directed = pointed
- I was now in the schoolroom; Adele was drawing; I bent over her and directed her pencil.
Chpt 16 (definition 4)directed = guided
- And issuing from my asylum with precaution, I sought a back-stairs which conducted directly to the kitchen.
Chpt 17 (definition 1)directly = straight (without going anywhere else first)
- While Mr. Rochester and the other gentlemen directed these alterations, the ladies were running up and down stairs ringing for their maids.
Chpt 18 (definition 3)directed = supervised
- It looked all brown and black: elf-locks bristled out from beneath a white band which passed under her chin, and came half over her cheeks, or rather jaws: her eye confronted me at once, with a bold and direct gaze.
Chpt 19 (definition 6)direct = straight and steady
- One of the ladies ran to him directly; she seized his arm: it was Miss Ingram.
Chpt 20 (definition 1)directly = immediately
- Directly, sir; the shoulder is just bandaged.
Chpt 20 (definition 1) *directly = in a short time
- I retired as directed.
Chpt 20 (definition 2) *directed = instructed
- "Yes; and I will do it now;" and having directed him to the servants' hall, and recommended him to the care of John's wife, and the attentions of John himself, I went in search of Mr. Rochester.
Chpt 21 (definition 4)directed = guided
- "How is Mrs. Reed?" I asked soon, looking calmly at Georgiana, who thought fit to bridle at the direct address, as if it were an unexpected liberty.
Chpt 21 (definition 6) *direct = asked specifically of that person
- I wished to leave immediately after the funeral, but Georgiana entreated me to stay till she could get off to London, whither she was now at last invited by her uncle, Mr. Gibson, who had come down to direct his sister's interment and settle the family affairs.
Chpt 22 (definition 3)direct = supervise (be in charge of)
- Probably those damp walls would soon have eased me of her charge: but to each villain his own vice; and mine is not a tendency to indirect assassination, even of what I most hate.
Chpt 27 (definition 5)indirect = not straightforward (complex or devious)standard prefix: The prefix "in-" in indirect means not and reverses the meaning of direct. This is the same pattern you see in words like invisible, incomplete, and insecure.
- He sat down: but he did not get leave to speak directly.
Chpt 27 (definition 1)directly = immediately
- God keep you from harm and wrong — direct you, solace you — reward you well for your past kindness to me.
Chpt 27 (definition 4)direct = guide
- Oh, Providence! sustain me a little longer! Aid! — direct me!
Chpt 28 (definition 4) *
- He did not speak to me one word, nor even direct to me one glance, till his sisters returned.
Chpt 29 (definition 4)direct = aim
- There was an unceremonious directness, a searching, decided steadfastness in his gaze now, which told that intention, and not diffidence, had hitherto kept it averted from the stranger.
Chpt 29 (definition 5)directness = the quality of being straightforward or clear
- It is my way — it always was my way, by instinct — ever to meet the brief with brevity, the direct with plainness.
Chpt 29 (definition 5) *direct = straightforward (clear and uncomplicated)
- Here I saw his glance directed to my hands, which were folded on the table before me.
Chpt 29 (definition 4)directed = pointed
- God directed me to a correct choice: I thank His providence for the guidance!
Chpt 31 (definition 4)directed = guided
- …and when our energies seem to demand a sustenance they cannot get — when our will strains after a path we may not follow — we need neither starve from inanition, nor stand still in despair: we have but to seek another nourishment for the mind, as strong as the forbidden food it longed to taste — and perhaps purer; and to hew out for the adventurous foot a road as direct and broad as the one Fortune has blocked up against us, if rougher than it.
Chpt 31 (definition 6)direct = straight (along a straight line)
- Though Mr. Rivers had started at the first of those musical accents, as if a thunderbolt had split a cloud over his head, he stood yet, at the close of the sentence, in the same attitude in which the speaker had surprised him — his arm resting on the gate, his face directed towards the west.
Chpt 31 (definition 4)directed = pointed
- "Do you think you shall like Morton?" she asked of me, with a direct and naive simplicity of tone and manner, pleasing, if child-like.
Chpt 31 (definition 5)direct = straightforward (open and honest)
- "Write to Diana and Mary to-morrow," I said, "and tell them to come home directly."
Chpt 33 (definition 1)directly = immediately
- You say truly; but when found, it is right to stir them up — to urge and exhort them to the effort — to show them what their gifts are, and why they were given — to speak Heaven's message in their ear, — to offer them, direct from God, a place in the ranks of His chosen.
Chpt 34 (definition 6)direct = straight (without anything in between)
- I did consider; and still my sense, such as it was, directed me only to the fact that we did not love each other as man and wife should: and therefore it inferred we ought not to marry.
Chpt 34 (definition 4)directed = guided
- I asked, knowing, of course, what the answer would be, but yet desirous of deferring the direct question as to where he really was.
Chpt 36 (definition 5)direct = straightforward (specific and to the point)
- He was taken out from under the ruins, alive, but sadly hurt: a beam had fallen in such a way as to protect him partly; but one eye was knocked out, and one hand so crushed that Mr. Carter, the surgeon, had to amputate it directly.
Chpt 36 (definition 1)directly = immediately
Definitions:
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(1) (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.
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(2) (direct as in: directed the jury to...) give instructions or commands
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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: directed her question to) to indicate direction; or to cause movement or focus in a direction or towards an objectThe exact meaning of this sense of direct is subject to its context. For example:
- "intentionally directed fire at unarmed civilians" -- aimed a gun
- "directed the question to her" -- aimed a question
- "directed her north" -- pointed in a particular direction
- "directed attention to the 3rd paragraph" -- focused attention on a particular object
- "The sound of her voice directed him to the kitchen." -- guided or gave directions to someone to help them move to a particular place
- "She directed him to the airport." -- gave directions to send someone to a particular place
- "She directed the boat north." -- steered it
- "directed the letter to" -- send a letter to a particular person by putting a name and address on it
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(5) (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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(6) (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