All 9 Uses of
direct
in
The Merchant of Venice
- No, not take interest; not, as you would say,
Directly interest; mark what Jacob did:†
Scene 1.3 (definition 3)
- ...at the very next turning, turn of no hand, but turn down indirectly to the Jew's house.
Scene 2.2 (definition 1) *indirectly = going around (not in a straight line)standard 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.
- She hath directed How I shall take her from her father's house; What gold and jewels she is furnish'd with; What page's suit she hath in readiness.
Scene 2.4 (definition 2)directed = instructed
- Some god direct my judgment!
Scene 2.7 (definition 3) *direct = guide
- Happiest of all is that her gentle spirit
Commits itself to yours to be directed,
As from her lord, her governor, her king.
Scene 3.2 (definition 2) *directed = commanded
- It is enacted in the laws of Venice,
If it be prov'd against an alien
That by direct or indirect attempts
He seek the life of any citizen,
The party 'gainst the which he doth contrive
Shall seize one half his goods; the other half
Comes to the privy coffer of the state;
And the offender's life lies in the mercy
Of the duke only, 'gainst all other voice.
Scene 4.1 (definition 4)direct = straightforward (clear and uncomplicated)
- It is enacted in the laws of Venice,
If it be prov'd against an alien
That by direct or indirect attempts
He seek the life of any citizen,
The party 'gainst the which he doth contrive
Shall seize one half his goods; the other half
Comes to the privy coffer of the state;
And the offender's life lies in the mercy
Of the duke only, 'gainst all other voice.
Scene 4.1 (definition 4)indirect = not straightforward (not obvious and simple)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.
- For it appears by manifest proceeding
That indirectly, and directly too,
Thou hast contrived against the very life
Of the defendant; and thou hast incurr'd
The danger formerly by me rehears'd.
Scene 4.1 (definition 4) *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.
- In which predicament, I say, thou stand'st;
For it appears by manifest proceeding
That indirectly, and directly too,
Thou hast contrived against the very life
Of the defendant; and thou hast incurr'd
The danger formerly by me rehears'd.
Scene 4.1 (definition 4)directly = in a straightforward manner (clearly without any ambiguity)