All 50 Uses of
direct
in
Bleak House
- On such an afternoon, if ever, the Lord High Chancellor ought to be sitting here—as here he is—with a foggy glory round his head, softly fenced in with crimson cloth and curtains, addressed by a large advocate with great whiskers, a little voice, and an interminable brief, and outwardly directing his contemplation to the lantern in the roof, where he can see nothing but fog.†
Chpt 1-3
- "In reference," proceeds the Chancellor with extra distinctness, "to the young girl and boy, the two young people"—Mr. Tangle crushed— "whom I directed to be in attendance to-day and who are now in my private room, I will see them and satisfy myself as to the expediency of making the order for their residing with their uncle."†
Chpt 1-3
- Old Square, Lincoln's Inn Madam, Jarndyce and Jarndyce Our clt Mr. Jarndyce being abt to rece into his house, under an Order of the Ct of Chy, a Ward of the Ct in this cause, for whom he wishes to secure an elgble compn, directs us to inform you that he will be glad of your serces in the afsd capacity.†
Chpt 1-3 (definition 1)
- The gentleman in the bag wig opened the door almost directly and requested Mr. Kenge to come in.†
Chpt 1-3 (definition 1)
- It smoked to that degree, in short, that we all sat coughing and crying with the windows open for half an hour, during which Mrs. Jellyby, with the same sweetness of temper, directed letters about Africa.†
Chpt 4-6
- She answered for herself directly.†
Chpt 4-6 (definition 1)
- "Why, cousin John," said Ada, clasping her hands upon his arm and shaking her head at me across him—for I wanted her to be quiet— "Esther was their friend directly.†
Chpt 4-6 (definition 1)
- I don't know that it's of any direct use my doing so, but it's all I can do, and I do it thoroughly.†
Chpt 4-6
- First, I was not quite unconscious of the contrast in respect of meaning and intention between the silent look directed that way and the flow of words that had preceded it.†
Chpt 4-6
- "If I find a person unwilling to hear what I have to say, I tell that person directly, 'I am incapable of fatigue, my good friend, I am never tired, and I mean to go on until I have done.'†
Chpt 7-9 (definition 1)
- We said as little as we could to Mr. Jarndyce, but the wind changed directly.†
Chpt 7-9 (definition 1)
- The dinner was put back an hour, and we were sitting round the fire with no light but the blaze when the hall-door suddenly burst open and the hall resounded with these words, uttered with the greatest vehemence and in a stentorian tone: "We have been misdirected, Jarndyce, by a most abandoned ruffian, who told us to take the turning to the right instead of to the left.†
Chpt 7-9
- "I have not the slightest doubt that the scoundrel has passed his whole existence in misdirecting travellers!" returned the other.†
Chpt 7-9
- Mr. Jarndyce directed his eyes to where he was sitting as I have just described him.
Chpt 7-9 (definition 1) *directed = pointed, aimed, or focused
- "I cannot consent to hear another word, sir," I returned, "Unless you get up from the carpet directly and go and sit down at the table as you ought to do if you have any sense at all."†
Chpt 7-9 (definition 1)
- "I am aware," said Mr. Guppy, leaning forward over the tray and regarding me, as I again strangely felt, though my eyes were not directed to him, with his late intent look, "I am aware that in a worldly point of view, according to all appearances, my offer is a poor one.†
Chpt 7-9
- I was directed to his lodging—a miserable, poverty-stricken place —and I found him dead.
Chpt 10-12 (definition 1)directed = aimed or focused
- I felt this to be true; though if I may venture to mention what I thought besides, I thought it much to be regretted that Richard's education had not counteracted those influences or directed his character.†
Chpt 13-15
- Ada tenderly embraced him, and Richard heartily shook hands with him, and then the cousins went out of the room, looking back again directly, though, to say that they would wait for me.†
Chpt 13-15 (definition 1)
- She was in town, but not at home, having gone to Mile End directly after breakfast on some Borrioboolan business, arising out of a society called the East London Branch Aid Ramification.
Chpt 13-15 (definition 2)directly = immediately
- I was directing the new circulars till two this morning.†
Chpt 13-15 *
- It was the room with the dark door to which Miss Flite had secretly directed my attention when I was last in the house.
Chpt 13-15 (definition 1)directed = focused or pointed
- She answered for herself directly, though he had put the question in a whisper.†
Chpt 13-15 (definition 1)
- The system which had addressed him in exactly the same manner as it had addressed hundreds of other boys, all varying in character and capacity, had enabled him to dash through his tasks, always with fair credit and often with distinction, but in a fitful, dazzling way that had confirmed his reliance on those very qualities in himself which it had been most desirable to direct and train.†
Chpt 16-18
- "As if you had anything to make you unhappy, instead of everything to make you happy, you ungrateful heart!" said I. If I could have made myself go to sleep, I would have done it directly, but not being able to do that, I took out of my basket some ornamental work for our house (I mean Bleak House) that I was busy with at that time and sat down to it with great determination.†
Chpt 16-18 (definition 1)
- But our direct road lies through Sir Leicester Dedlock's park, and in that fellow's property I have sworn never to set foot of mine, or horse's foot of mine, pending the present relations between us, while I breathe the breath of life!
Chpt 16-18 (definition 3)direct = straightest or quickest
- It shall be here directly.
Chpt 16-18 (definition 2) *directly = immediately; or in a short time
- The latter part of the proposal is so directly to the purpose that Mr. Jobling says with emotion, "Guppy, my trump, your fist!"†
Chpt 19-21 (definition 1)
- Judy, see directly to the pipe and the glass of cold brandy-and-water for Mr. George.†
Chpt 19-21 (definition 1)
- It appeared to me that his industry was all misdirected.†
Chpt 22-24
- Caddy was quite transported by this reply of mine, being, I believe, as susceptible to the least kindness or encouragement as any tender heart that ever beat in this world; and after another turn or two round the garden, during which she put on an entirely new pair of gloves and made herself as resplendent as possible that she might do no avoidable discredit to the Master of Deportment, we went to Newman Street direct.†
Chpt 22-24
- Carstone will be here directly.
Chpt 22-24 (definition 2)directly = immediately; or in a short time
- I was on my guard for a blow, he was that passionate; but he received it in very good part and left off directly.
Chpt 22-24 (definition 2)directly = immediately
- Mr. George directed another succession of quick bright glances at me as my guardian and I exchanged a word or two of surprise at the coincidence, and I therefore explained to him how we knew the name.†
Chpt 22-24
- Now, Nimrod being as dead as the mighty hunter whose name Mrs. Snagsby has appropriated, and the lady being unproducible, she directs her mental eye, for the present, with redoubled vigilance to the boy.†
Chpt 25-27
- Mr. Chadband, leaning forward over the table, pierces what he has got to follow directly into Mr. Snagsby with the thumb-nail already mentioned.†
Chpt 25-27 (definition 1)
- Mr. Tulkinghorn is not within at the present moment but will be back directly.
Chpt 25-27 (definition 2)directly = in a short time
- To one of the little shops in this street, which is a musician's shop, having a few fiddles in the window, and some Pan's pipes and a tambourine, and a triangle, and certain elongated scraps of music, Mr. George directs his massive tread.†
Chpt 25-27
- Sir Leicester directs his majestic glance down one side of the long drawing-room and up the other before he can believe that he is awake.†
Chpt 28-30
- Sir Leicester is particularly complacent because he has found in his newspaper some congenial remarks bearing directly on the floodgates and the framework of society.
Chpt 28-30 (definition 3) *directly = exactly where stated (used for emphasis)
- With this apology, Mercury directs a scornful and indignant look at the young man of the name of Guppy which plainly says, "What do you come calling here for and getting ME into a row?"†
Chpt 28-30
- Ma and Africa, together, upset the whole house directly.†
Chpt 28-30 (definition 1)
- They came out with me directly to look at the boy.†
Chpt 31-33 (definition 1)
- It seems to me that it would be wiser, as well as in a certain kind of way more respectable, if he showed some misdirected energy that got him into prison.†
Chpt 31-33
- Now, this appears to me a case of misdirected energy, which has a certain amount of reason in it and a certain amount of romance; and I don't know but what I should be more interested in our young friend, as an illustration of such a case, than merely as a poor vagabond—which any one can be."†
Chpt 31-33
- Charley directed the operations and went to and fro between the loft-room and the house with such little stimulants and comforts as we thought it safe to give him.†
Chpt 31-33
- Her bright quick eye catches the truth directly.†
Chpt 34-36 (definition 1)
- Mr. Bagnet, stopping to take a farewell look into the parlour, replies with one shake of his head directed at the interior, "If my old girl had been here—I'd have told him!"
Chpt 34-36 (definition 1)directed = aimed, or intended for
- In the midst of his perfect assumption of indifference, he directs a sharp look at the trooper, taking care to stand with his own back to the light and to have the other with his face towards it.†
Chpt 34-36
- We arrived at such a capital understanding that when he was jogging with me lazily, and rather obstinately, down some shady lane, if I patted his neck and said, "Stubbs, I am surprised you don't canter when you know how much I like it; and I think you might oblige me, for you are only getting stupid and going to sleep," he would give his head a comical shake or two and set off directly, while Charley would stand still and laugh with such enjoyment that her laughter was like music.
Chpt 34-36 (definition 2)directly = immediately
Definitions:
-
(1) (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
-
(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.
-
(3) (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
-
(direct as in: directed the jury to...) give instructions or commands