All 7 Uses
direct
in
Othello, the Moor of Venice
(Edited)
- To prison; till fit time
Of law and course of direct session
Call thee to answer.Scene 1.2direct = immediate - But, Othello, speak:
Did you by indirect and forced courses
Subdue and poison this young maid's affections?Scene 1.3 *indirect = not straightforward (deceptive)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. - The lieutenant to-night watches on the court of guard: first, I must tell thee this—Desdemona is directly in love with him.
Scene 2.1directly = completely
- How am I, then, a villain
To counsel Cassio to this parallel course,
Directly to his good?Scene 2.3 - Take note, take note, O world,
To be direct and honest is not safe.Scene 3.3direct = straightforward (specific and to the point) - But yet, I say,
If imputation and strong circumstances,
— Which lead directly to the door of truth,
— Will give you satisfaction, you may have't.Scene 3.3directly = straight (without going anywhere else first) - Thou hast taken against me a most just exception; but yet, I protest, I have dealt most directly in thy affair.
Scene 4.2 *directly = completely
Definitions:
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(1)
(direct as in: directly above; or buy direct) without anything in between -- whether in time, space, or involvement
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(2)
(direct as in: gave a direct answer) straightforward -- often clear, open, or blunt in speech or behavior
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(3)
(direct as in: direct a question; or direct a film) to guide, aim, or manage -- such as actions, attention, speech, a project or company
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(4)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) Direct can take on many specialized meanings not included in this dictionary.As an adjective or adverb, direct usually means there is a clear or straight connection with nothing in the way. It can also mean easy to understand, without confusion. For example:
- Direct action – taking quick and clear steps to make something happen
- Direct descendant – someone who comes straight from an ancestor, like a grandchild
- Direct line (in genealogy) – a family connection that goes straight from one generation to the next
- Direct deposit – money that is sent straight into a bank account
- Direct object – in a sentence, the person or thing that receives the action of the verb
- Direct kick – in sports, a kick where the ball can go straight into the goal without touching another player
- Direct cost – a cost that comes straight from making a product or providing a service
- Direct investment – putting money directly into a company or project
- Direct elections – when people vote for leaders without going through an extra step
- Direct current (DC) – a type of electric flow that moves in only one direction
As a verb, most all of the senses of direct involve giving orders or aiming.