All 24 Uses of

direct

in

Uncle Tom's Cabin

For a year or two Eliza saw her husband frequently, and there was nothing to interrupt their happiness, except the loss of two infant children, to whom she was passionately attached, and whom she mourned with a grief so intense as to call for gentle remonstrance from her mistress, who sought, with maternal anxiety, to direct her naturally passionate feelings within the bounds of reason and religion.
Chpt 1.2 (definition 1)

direct = guide

Haley has come into possession of a mortgage, which, if I don't clear off with him directly, will take everything before it.
Chpt 1.5 (definition 2) *

directly = in a short time

She took a piece of paper and a pencil, and wrote, hastily.... Hastily folding and directing this, she...
Chpt 1.5 (definition 1)

directing = addressing (writing an address on an envelope)

He therefore appeared before Aunt Chloe with a touchingly subdued, resigned expression, like one who has suffered immeasurable hardships in behalf of a persecuted fellow-creature,—enlarged upon the fact that Missis had directed him to come to Aunt Chloe for whatever might be wanting to make up the balance in his solids and fluids,—and thus unequivocally acknowledged her right and supremacy in the cooking department, and all thereto pertaining.
Chpt 1.8 (definition 3) *

directed = instructed

The shot had passed too straight and direct through the heart, for cry or tear.
Chpt 1.12 (definition 4)

direct = exact

All her movements were sharp, decided, and energetic; and, though she was never much of a talker, her words were remarkably direct, and to the purpose, when she did speak.
Chpt 1.15 (definition 5)

direct = straightforward (specific and clear)

Her finale and ultimatum of contempt consisted in a very emphatic pronunciation of the word "shiftless;" and by this she characterized all modes of procedure which had not a direct and inevitable relation to accomplishment of some purpose then definitely had in mind.
Chpt 1.15 (definition 5)

direct = clear

People who did nothing, or who did not know exactly what they were going to do, or who did not take the most direct way to accomplish what they set their hands to, were objects of her entire contempt,—a contempt shown less frequently by anything she said, than by a kind of stony grimness, as if she scorned to say anything about the matter.
Chpt 1.15 (definition 5)

direct = straightforward (uncomplicated)

I make no manner of doubt that you threw a very diamond of truth at me, though you see it hit me so directly in the face that it wasn't exactly appreciated, at first.
Chpt 1.16 (definition 4)

directly = exactly where stated (used for emphasis)

His stable services were merely a sinecure, and consisted simply in a daily care and inspection, and directing an under-servant in his duties; for Marie St. Clare declared that she could not have any smell of the horses about him when he came near her, and that he must positively not be put to any service that would make him unpleasant to her, as her nervous system was entirely inadequate to any trial of that nature; one snuff of anything disagreeable being, according to her account,…
Chpt 1.16 (definition 6)

directing = supervising

"I'm not going to have any of your horrid New England directness, cousin," said St. Clare, gayly.
Chpt 1.16 (definition 5) *

directness = the quality of being straightforward or clear (without adjusting what is said to spare others' feelings)

If you will lend me your vehicle and direct me, I will drive alone to the next stand.
Chpt 1.17 (definition 1) *

direct = give directions to

Accustomed, for many years, to regard his master's property as his own care, Tom saw, with an uneasiness he could scarcely repress, the wasteful expenditure of the establishment; and, in the quiet, indirect way which his class often acquire, would sometimes make his own suggestions.
Chpt 1.18 (definition 5)

indirect = not straightforward (not clearly stated)

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.

She was a direct embodiment and personification of the New Testament,—a living fact, to be accounted for, and to be accounted for in no other way than by its truth.
Chpt 2.19 (definition 5)

direct = clear

She never contradicted, in form, anything my father said, or seemed directly to differ from him; but she impressed, burnt into my very soul, with all the force of her deep, earnest nature, an idea of the dignity and worth of the meanest human soul.
Chpt 2.19 (definition 5)

directly = in a straightforward manner (clearly without any ambiguity)

There must, he says, be a lower class, given up to physical toil and confined to an animal nature; and a higher one thereby acquires leisure and wealth for a more expanded intelligence and improvement, and becomes the directing soul of the lower.
Chpt 2.19 (definition 6) *

directing = controlling

Nobody in the world ever doubted who did the things; but not a scrap of any direct evidence could be found to establish the suppositions, and Miss Ophelia was too just to feel at liberty to proceed to any length without it.
Chpt 2.20 (definition 5)

direct = clear

Jane hung her head and cowered at this, for she felt as if it was particularly directed to her.
Chpt 2.29 (definition 1)

directed = aimed (intended for)

The whole object of the training to which the negro is put, from the time he is sold in the northern market till he arrives south, is systematically directed towards making him callous, unthinking, and brutal.
Chpt 2.30 (definition 1)

directed = focused

"Now, mind yourself," he said, with a stamp and a fierce glance of his gray eye, directed at Tom, (I'm your church now!)
Chpt 2.31 (definition 1)

directed = aimed

As by a fascination, every eye was now directed to the glaring greenish-gray eye of Simon.
Chpt 2.31 (definition 1)

directed = pointed

The sleeping-room of Cassy was directly under the garret.
Chpt 2.39 (definition 4) *

directly = straight (in a straight line)

By cajoling Legree, and taking advantage of a good-natured interval, Cassy had got him to take her with him to the neighboring town, which was situated directly on the Red river.
Chpt 2.39 (definition 4)

directly = where stated (used for emphasis)

Cassy placed her ear at the knot-hole; and, as the morning air blew directly towards the house, she could overhear a good deal of the conversation.
Chpt 2.40 (definition 4)

directly = straight (in a straight line)

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From Other Sources
Grouped by 6 Meanings

Definitions:

(1) (direct as in: directed her question to)
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

(2) (direct as in: depart directly)
without delay, or in the quickest manner, or without going somewhere else first

editor'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: directed the jury to...)
give instructions or commands

(4) (direct as in: directly above; or buy direct from)
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

(5) (direct as in: was direct in my instructions)
straightforward (uncomplicated or simple -- perhaps also indicating openness and honesty, or little concern for others' feelings)

(6) (direct as in: directed the movie)
supervise, control, or to be in charge of

direct in Uncle Tom's Cabin

direct

in

Uncle Tom's Cabin