All 39 Uses of
direct
in
Far from the Madding Crowd
- The North Star was directly in the wind's eye, and since evening the Bear had swung round it outwardly to the east, till he was now at a right angle with the meridian.
Chpt 1-3 (definition 1)directly = straight (exactly where stated; used for emphasis)
- Marriage transforms a distraction into a support, the power of which should be, and happily often is, in direct proportion to the degree of imbecility it supplants.
Chpt 4-6 (definition 1)direct = exact or close
- Directly he seized it she put it behind her, so that it slipped through his fingers like an eel.
Chpt 4-6 (definition 2)directly = as soon as
- His incipient friendship with her aunt had been nipped by the failure of his suit, and all that Oak learnt of Bathsheba's movements was done indirectly.†
Chpt 4-6 (definition 2)
- Oak resolved to sleep at Weatherbury that night on his way to Shottsford, and struck out at once into the high road which had been recommended as the direct route to the village in question.
Chpt 4-6 (definition 1)direct = straightest or quickest
- Round the corner of the largest stack, out of the direct rays of the fire, stood a pony, bearing a young woman on its back.
Chpt 4-6 (definition 1)direct = unobstructed (with nothing in between)
- Gabriel resumed, primarily to gain the information, indirectly to get more of the music.†
Chpt 7-9 (definition 2)
- His thoughts were directed to the past, his eyes to the feet of the girl; and for the first time he saw lying there a bundle of some sort.†
Chpt 7-9 (definition 3)
- A meditation on the obvious inference was indulged in by all, and during its continuance each directed his vision into the ashpit, which glowed like a desert in the tropics under a vertical sun, shaping their eyes long and liny, partly because of the light, partly from the depth of the subject discussed.†
Chpt 7-9 (definition 3)
- "I daresay he'll be in directly.†
Chpt 10-12 *
- Liddy, you may as well bring me my desk and I'll direct it at once."†
Chpt 13-15 (definition 3)
- Bathsheba, a small yawn upon her mouth, took the pen, and with off-hand serenity directed the missive to Boldwood.†
Chpt 13-15 (definition 3)
- The vast difference between starting a train of events, and directing into a particular groove a series already started, is rarely apparent to the person confounded by the issue.†
Chpt 13-15 (definition 3)
- Indeed, he seemed to approach the grave as a hyperbolic curve approaches a straight line—less directly as he got nearer, till it was doubtful if he would ever reach it at all.†
Chpt 13-15
- This was recognized by all as the conclusion of some gloomy speech which had been expressed in thought alone during the shake of the head; Henery meanwhile retained several marks of despair upon his face, to imply that they would be required for use again directly he should go on speaking.†
Chpt 13-15
- "I've run to tell ye," said the junior shepherd, supporting his exhausted youthful frame against the doorpost, "that you must come directly."
Chpt 13-15 (definition 2)directly = immediately
- But it had been brought about by misdirected ingenuity, and she valued it only as she valued an artificial flower or a wax fruit.†
Chpt 16-18 (definition 3)
- "I suppose not," said Gabriel bitterly, and going on with his turning, his words rising and falling in a regular swell and cadence as he stooped or rose with the winch, which directed them, according to his position, perpendicularly into the earth, or horizontally along the garden, his eyes being fixed on a leaf upon the ground.†
Chpt 19-21 (definition 3)
- To come to me, and not go and get them out directly!
Chpt 19-21 (definition 2) *directly = immediately
- All then stalked off in consternation, to get somebody as directed, without any idea of who it was to be.
Chpt 19-21 (definition 3)directed = instructed
- He had a quick comprehension and considerable force of character; but, being without the power to combine them, the comprehension became engaged with trivialities whilst waiting for the will to direct it, and the force wasted itself in useless grooves through unheeding the comprehension.†
Chpt 25-27 (definition 3)
- Bathsheba blushed with half-angry embarrassment, and adjusted her eyes as well as her feet to the direct line of her path.
Chpt 25-27 (definition 1) *direct = without anything in between
- She took up her position as directed, facing Troy.
Chpt 28-30 (definition 3) *directed = instructed
- I want you to hear nothing—not I." Bathsheba was unable to direct her will into any definite groove for freeing herself from this fearfully awkward position.†
Chpt 31-33 (definition 3)
- Directly Cain mentioned Bath, they all threw down their hooks and forks and drew round him.†
Chpt 31-33
- "Yes," he continued, directing his thoughts to Bath and letting his eyes follow, "I've seed the world at last—yes—and I've seed our mis'ess—ahok-hok-hok!"†
Chpt 31-33 (definition 3)
- He knew what this direct message from the Great Mother meant.†
Chpt 34-36 (definition 3)
- A hot breeze, as if breathed from the parted lips of some dragon about to swallow the globe, fanned him from the south, while directly opposite in the north rose a grim misshapen body of cloud, in the very teeth of the wind.†
Chpt 34-36
- Directly he had gone, Bathsheba burst into great sobs—dry-eyed sobs, which cut as they came, without any softening by tears.
Chpt 40-42 (definition 2)directly = as soon as
- The shrubs and flowers were all piled in the waggon, as she had directed; Bathsheba hardly saw them now.†
Chpt 40-42 (definition 3)
- Fetching three other men to assist him, they bore the unconscious truant indoors, placing the coffin on two benches in the middle of a little sitting-room next the hall, as Bathsheba directed.†
Chpt 40-42 (definition 3)
- When he returned he carried a spade and a lantern, the light of which he directed for a few moments upon the marble, whilst he read the inscription.†
Chpt 43-45 (definition 3)
- The persistent torrent from the gurgoyle's jaws directed all its vengeance into the grave.†
Chpt 46-48 (definition 3)
- She requested Oak to get the churchwardens to turn the leadwork at the mouth of the gurgoyle that hung gaping down upon them, that by this means the stream might be directed sideways, and a repetition of the accident prevented.†
Chpt 46-48 (definition 3)
- Boldwood did not directly communicate with her during these negotiations, only speaking to Oak, who was the go-between throughout.
Chpt 49-51 (definition 4) *directly = in a straightforward manner (an uncomplicated manner)
- Bathsheba's return from a two months' visit to her old aunt at Norcombe afforded the impassioned and yearning farmer a pretext for inquiring directly after her—now possibly in the ninth month of her widowhood—and endeavouring to get a notion of her state of mind regarding him.
Chpt 49-51 (definition 2)directly = immediately
- We'd better stand quiet—he'll go in again directly.
Chpt 52-54 (definition 2)directly = in a short time
- The shops thought it very natural that a man who, by importing direct from the producer, had daringly set aside the first great principle of provincial existence, namely that God made country villages to supply customers to county towns, should have confused ideas about the Decalogue.
Chpt 55-57 (definition 1)direct = straight (without anything in between)
- Laban departed as directed, and at eleven o'clock that night several of the villagers strolled along the road to Casterbridge and awaited his arrival—among them Oak, and nearly all the rest of Bathsheba's men.
Chpt 55-57 (definition 3)directed = instructed
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: 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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(3) (direct as in: directed the jury to...) give instructions or commands
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(4) (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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(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