3 meanings, 43 uses
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1 —1 use as in:
directly above; or buy direct from
Definition
straight (exactly where stated); or without involvement of anything in between
The 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
- Sitting close to her, he turned and looked at her directly, his glance compelling like an open hint, hoping to make the silence significant between them.2.5 — Part 2 Chapter 5 (86% in)
directly = straight (focusing where stated rather than including it as part of a larger focus; or a careful look rather than a quick glance)
There are no more uses of "direct" flagged with this meaning in The Fountainhead.
Typical Usage
(best examples)
2 —6 uses as in:
directed her question to
Definition
to indicate direction; or to cause movement or focus in a direction or towards an object
The 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
- The ovals were directed at Toohey.4.19 — Part 4 Chapter 19 (35% in)
directed = pointed, aimed, or intended for
Other Uses (with this meaning)
- He piloted her through the sparse crowd, his fingers closing over her elbow once in a while, letting her catch his eyes directed at her young face more often than at the paintings.1.5 — Part 1 Chapter 5 (31% in)
- Toohey entered, a cautious half-smile on his face, a smile mocking himself and his boss, but with a delicate sense of balance, sixty percent of the mockery directed at himself.3.1 — Part 3 Chapter 1 (20% in)
- His face had assumed the expression it was to wear for the rest of his life: not quite a smile, but a motionless look of irony directed at the whole world.3.1 — Part 3 Chapter 1 (62% in)
- His glance was directed at Roark with a soft emphasis, almost with tenderness; as if he were showing that he wished to treat Roark cautiously, to spare him intact for a purpose of his own.4.3 — Part 4 Chapter 3 (58% in)
- Keating realized that there had been art and skill and its own kind of illogical energy in the career of Guy Francon, even if the art consisted only of his social charm and the energy was directed at snaring bewildered millionaires.4.7 — Part 4 Chapter 7 (11% in)
directed = focused or pointed
directed = aimed, or intended for
directed = aimed, or intended for
directed = aimed, or intended for
directed = aimed, or intended for
There are no more uses of "direct" flagged with this meaning in The Fountainhead.
Typical Usage
(best examples)
3 —19 uses as in:
directed the movie
Definition
supervise, control, or to be in charge of
- She acquired a permanent job by getting herself appointed Director of Social Recreation for Cortlandt.4.12 — Part 4 Chapter 12 (19% in)
Other Uses (with this meaning)
- # The letter on Cameron's desk informed him regretfully that after earnest consideration, the board of directors of the Security Trust Company had not been able to accept his plans for the building to house the new Astoria branch of the Company and that the commission had been awarded to the firm of Gould & Pettingill.1.5 — Part 1 Chapter 5 (70% in)
- The vice-president, who had asked Cameron to submit drawings, had said: "I know, some of the directors won't see it as I do.1.5 — Part 1 Chapter 5 (75% in)
- It's the board of directors that will have to decide.1.13 — Part 1 Chapter 13 (59% in)
- Then he was called before the board of directors of the Janss-Stuart Real Estate Company.1.13 — Part 1 Chapter 13 (60% in)
- The letter was from Mr. Janss and it began: "Dear Mr. Roark, I am sorry to inform you that our board of directors find themselves unable to grant you the commission for..."1.13 — Part 1 Chapter 13 (65% in)
- He was asked by Mr. Weidler, a member of the board of directors, who was a friend of young Richard Sanborn.1.14 — Part 1 Chapter 14 (55% in)
- I'll have a chapter on boards of directors.2.10 — Part 2 Chapter 10 (37% in)
- All I mean is that a board of directors is one or two ambitious men—and a lot of ballast.2.10 — Part 2 Chapter 10 (38% in)
- If the violence of the battles which people never hear about could be measured in material statistics, the battle of Kent Lansing against the board of directors of the Aquitania Corporation would have been listed among the greatest carnages of history.2.10 — Part 2 Chapter 10 (42% in)
- A meeting of the board of directors of the Wynand Enterprises, Inc., had been scheduled for eleven-thirty that morning.3.1 — Part 3 Chapter 1 (11% in)
- The directors were not certain of their functions or purpose.3.1 — Part 3 Chapter 1 (11% in)
- The directors were not allowed to stop or notice Wynand's presence.3.1 — Part 3 Chapter 1 (11% in)
- The Director of Social Recreation departed for Washington to discuss the matter of a Little Theater and a Meeting Hall she wished added to the next two buildings of Cortlandt.4.12 — Part 4 Chapter 12 (21% in)
- His childless wife was a member of the Board of Directors of the Workshop for Social Study; Toohey, its star lecturer, had introduced her to the Workshop.4.15 — Part 4 Chapter 15 (35% in)
- IN THE glass-smooth mahogany of the long table reserved for the board of directors there was a monogram in colored wood—G W—reproduced from his signature.4.16 — Part 4 Chapter 16 (0% in)
- It had always annoyed the directors.4.16 — Part 4 Chapter 16 (1% in)
- The directors sat around the table.4.16 — Part 4 Chapter 16 (1% in)
- The directors caught themselves in peculiar thoughts: some thought of British tailors, others—of the House of Lords—of the Tower of London—of the executed English King—or was it a Chancellor?4.16 — Part 4 Chapter 16 (3% in)
There are no more uses of "direct" flagged with this meaning in The Fountainhead.
Typical Usage
(best examples)
? —17 uses
exact meaning not specified
- She stopped for red lights that hung in the air over crossings of anonymous streets in unknown suburbs, she turned corners, she passed other cars, and she was certain that no accident could happen to her tonight; her car was directed by remote control—one of those automatic rays she'd read about—was it a beacon or a radio beam?4.12 — Part 4 Chapter 12 (65% in)
- Peter, simpler, more direct, as honest as you can make of a dishonest thing.1.14 — Part 1 Chapter 14 (32% in)
- Just ask anyone in the village to direct you.2.2 — Part 2 Chapter 2 (16% in)
- There was nothing to concern him directly in what had happened, except his wish that it had been someone else, anyone but Steven Mallory; and that he didn't know why he should wish this.2.3 — Part 2 Chapter 3 (39% in)
- It seemed to be the first direct communication between them.2.4 — Part 2 Chapter 4 (82% in)
- Ellsworth did not sneak or hide, but committed his act openly, with systematic deliberation: he walked to the tap, turned it on, stood in the middle of the lawn and directed the hose at Johnny, his aim faultless—with Johnny's mother just a few steps behind him down the street, with his own mother and father and the visiting minister in full view on the Toohey porch.2.9 — Part 2 Chapter 9 (1% in)
- When an S.O.S. was received from a ship sinking in a storm off the Atlantic coast, Wynand himself sped to the scene with his crew, ahead of the Coast Guard; Wynand directed the rescue and brought back an exclusive story with photographs of himself climbing a ladder over raging waves, a baby in his arms.3.1 — Part 3 Chapter 1 (70% in)
- Not through as direct a motivation as I believe you're thinking.3.3 — Part 3 Chapter 3 (5% in)
- He thought crazily that it sounded as if Wynand held his fist closed over his voice and directed each syllable.3.5 — Part 3 Chapter 5 (4% in)
- This was the way the town told her, a direct penetration which neither her clothes nor her mind could stop.3.5 — Part 3 Chapter 5 (64% in)
- The city became a friendly sight, an abstraction with which no possible communication could be established, like the sky, a spectacle to be admired, but of no direct concern in their lives.3.8 — Part 3 Chapter 8 (2% in)
- If you want it said directly, as you did, now I'm happy.4.2 — Part 4 Chapter 2 (24% in)
- I am still dealing with him—though not directly.4.7 — Part 4 Chapter 7 (72% in)
- She saw his eyes, direct, understanding.4.9 — Part 4 Chapter 9 (26% in)
- Direct it toward a goal destructive of all integrity.4.14 — Part 4 Chapter 14 (45% in)
- A world where no man will hold a desire for himself, but will direct all his efforts to satisfy the desires of his neighbor who'll have no desires except to satisfy the desires of the next neighbor who'll have no desires—around the globe, Peter.4.14 — Part 4 Chapter 14 (73% in)
- It was right that the city should now direct his way and that he should be moved by the pull of chance corners.4.16 — Part 4 Chapter 16 (55% in)
There are no more uses of "direct" in The Fountainhead.
Typical Usage
(best examples)