All 15 Uses of
direct
in
And The Mountains Echoed
- She tries to direct her thoughts to Saboor once more and instead finds her mind drifting to the rumor she has heard around the village: that he is looking for a new wife.
Chpt 3 (definition 1) *direct = focus
- On the way home, we paused often for good-humored exchanges with magazine vendors and butchers, a few cheerful words with the young policemen directing traffic.
Chpt 4 (definition 2) *directing = giving directions to
- The funeral home director cleared his throat.
Chpt 5 (definition 3)director = supervisor (person in charge)standard suffix: The suffix "-or" often converts a verb to a noun that means "a person who." This is the pattern you see in words like actor, editor, and visitor.
- "I see," the funeral director said.
Chpt 5 (definition 3)
- He finds it difficult to look at her directly.
Chpt 5 (definition 4)directly = straight (focusing where stated rather than including it as part of a larger focus; or a careful look rather than a quick glance)
- But, frankly, I doubt the board of directors would approve it, Idris.
Chpt 5 (definition 3)board of directors = members of a board that oversees the affairs of a corporation or other institution
- And you were a direct challenge to all he knew, all that he held dear.
Chpt 6 (definition 5) *direct = clear
- I searched for you because some of it concerns you, and also because he directly asks in it that I find you and give you this letter.
Chpt 6 (definition 5)directly = in a straightforward manner (clearly without any ambiguity)
- "You don't understand," Madaline said, and I realized I was the one who didn't understand because she was looking directly at me.
Chpt 8 (definition 4)directly = straight (exactly where stated; used for emphasis)
- The director.
Chpt 8 (definition 3) *director = supervisor (person in charge)standard suffix: The suffix "-or" often converts a verb to a noun that means "a person who." This is the pattern you see in words like actor, editor, and visitor.
- I looked at her directly in the face.
Chpt 8 (definition 4) *directly = straight (exactly where stated; used for emphasis)
- First, the director of photography—Madaline wrote DOP and Thalia had to explain it to me and Mama—had fallen off a scaffold on the set and broken his arm in three places.
Chpt 8 (definition 3)director = supervisor (person in charge)standard suffix: The suffix "-or" often converts a verb to a noun that means "a person who." This is the pattern you see in words like actor, editor, and visitor.
- She spoke in a way that left no room for retort, steamrolling over me with the truth, told right at the outset, plainly, directly.
Chpt 8 (definition 5)directly = in a straightforward manner (open and honest even if it makes someone uncomfortable)
- He has an unnerving way of looking at people these days, even when he is staring directly at them, that gives nothing away.
Chpt 9 (definition 4)directly = straight (exactly where stated; used for emphasis)
- When I first went to scout the facility, when the director, Penny—a tall, frail woman with curly strawberry hair—showed me around, I thought, This isn't so bad.
Chpt 9 (definition 3)director = supervisor (person in charge)standard suffix: The suffix "-or" often converts a verb to a noun that means "a person who." This is the pattern you see in words like actor, editor, and visitor.
Definitions:
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(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
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(2) (direct as in: directed the jury to...) give instructions or commands
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(3) (direct as in: directed the movie) supervise, control, or to be in charge of
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(4) (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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(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)