All 17 Uses of
direct
in
A Lesson Before Dying
- I was sorry now that I had come directly home, because Miss Emma was the last person I wanted to see.
Chpt 2 *directly = immediately
- She turned her head slowly and looked directly at me.
Chpt 2directly = straight (exactly where stated; used for emphasis)
- I felt her eyes on the back of my neck again, then on the side of my face as I pushed open the gate, and on me directly as I came back to the car.
Chpt 3
- She looked at me directly for the first time.
Chpt 6directly = straight (focusing where stated rather than including it as part of a larger focus; or a careful look rather than a quick glance)
- The fat man glanced knowingly at Louis Rougon, but Louis Rougon was looking directly at me.
Chpt 6directly = straight (exactly where stated; used for emphasis)
- The deputy walked a step ahead of us, with Miss Emma directly behind him, and me beside her.
Chpt 10directly = close
- I parked in front of the movie theater and watched one of the teachers direct the children onto the school bus.
Chpt 12 *direct = guide
- I was not looking at her when she said it, and I could tell by her voice that she was not looking directly at me.
Chpt 14directly = in a straight line
- "You have any idea?" she said, not looking at me directly.
Chpt 15directly = straight (focusing exactly where stated)
- One of the teachers was directing the children onto the bus, and Vivian and another teacher stood by the flagpole, talking.
Chpt 18directing = guiding
- Joe Freeman sat far in the back, but his wife, Harriet, and her mother, Aunt Agnes, and several of the children were up front, directly behind Miss Rita, Bok, and Julia Lavonia.
Chpt 19directly = close
- My aunt said "Amen" louder than anyone, and she was looking directly at me.
Chpt 19directly = straight (exactly where stated; used for emphasis)
- The choir of a dozen boys and girls moved down below the altar to sing "Silent Night." Irene Cole directed them.
Chpt 19 *directed = conducted (the actions of the person in charge of the performance)
- Claiborne wrapped it in a brown paper bag and I paid him, but we didn't look directly at each other.
Chpt 30 *directly = straight (focusing exactly where stated)
- As the sheriff ate, he talked to his wife, but he avoided looking her directly in the face most of the time.
Chpt 30
- He told his wife without looking directly at her that it would take place in the storeroom on the bottom floor in the back of the courthouse.
Chpt 30
- Paul looked directly at me, his gray-blue eyes more intense than I had ever seen them before.
Chpt 31directly = straight (exactly where stated; used for emphasis)
Definitions:
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(1)
(direct as in: depart directly) without delay, or in the quickest manner, or without going somewhere else firstYou 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.
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(2)
(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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(3)
(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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(4)
(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
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(5)
(direct as in: directed the jury to...) give instructions or commands
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(6)
(direct as in: directed the movie) supervise, control, or to be in charge of
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(7)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) Direct can take on many specialized meanings not included in this dictionary.As an adjective or adverb, most all senses of direct involve an uninterrupted connection and/or clarity (clear, unambiguous communication) as in:
- direct action
- direct descendant
- direct line (with regard to genealogy)
- direct deposit
- direct object
- direct kick
- direct cost
- direct investment
- direct elections
- direct current
As a verb, most all of the senses of direct involve giving orders or aiming.