All 8 Uses of
direct
in
Bless Me, Ultima
- It was frightening enough to come upon him so suddenly, but as I dropped to my knees in fright I must have uttered a cry because he turned and looked directly at me.
Chpt 2 (definition 1)directly = straight (exactly where stated; used for emphasis)
- Today two more families would be in mourning in the town of Guadalupe, and indirectly the far-off war of the Japanese and the Germans had come to claim two victims in New Mexico.
Chpt 3 (definition 2) *indirectly = in a complicated, non-obvious mannerstandard prefix: The prefix "in-" in indirectly means not and reverses the meaning of directly. This is the same pattern you see in words like invisible, incomplete, and insecure.
- Their laughter-cry sounded directly outside the small window of the room.
Chpt 10 (definition 1) *directly = close
- I was facing the angry kids and I could see that their hunger for vengeance was directed at me, but I didn't care, I felt relieved.
Chpt 18 (definition 3)directed = aimed
- He used his sharp knuckles and aimed each blow directly at my breastbone.
Chpt 18 (definition 1)directly = straight (exactly where stated; used for emphasis)
- "I swear before God Almighty," Tellez' voice cracked with the tremble of fear in it, "that there are things that have happened to my family that are directed by the devil himself!"
Chpt 20 (definition 3)directed = guided
- He came to where I stood directing the waters of the acequia down the rows of corn.
Chpt 22 (definition 3) *directing = sending
- But I was frightened and the only thing I was sure of was that I could run the ten miles to Guadalupe, and I knew that being on this side of the river I would come almost directly on the hills in which our home huddled.
Chpt 22 (definition 1)directly = exactly
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: 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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(3) (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