indirect English · revision 10578

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1387|origins=fro indirect|origins=la-lat indirectus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˌɪn.dɪˈrekt/, /ˌɪn.daɪˈrekt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is probably [[bor|fro|indirect]] (14th century) or directly from Late Latin indīrēctus, not direct,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from in-, not, and dīrēctus (see [[direct]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Probably before 1387, in a version of Piers Plowman;^(Barnhart 1988) the NODE gives the first sense as not in full grammatical agreement.^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Of a path or course, not straight, devious, is from 1474,^(OED 1989) of actions not straightforward or honest from 1570,^(OED 1989) and of a succession not in a direct line from 1596.^(OED 1989) Not taking the nearest course to an end is from 1584.^(OED 1989) ''Indirect speech'' and ''indirect object'' are grammatical uses,^(Roach et al. 2011)^(AHD) and ''indirect lighting'' is from 1925.^(OED 1989) ''Indirection'' is from the 16th century.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1387 – indirect.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1474 – of a path, crooked.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1570 – not straightforward.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1584 – roundabout.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1925 – indirect lighting.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Not following a straight course; [[roundabout]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Not straightforward or open; [[devious]] or evasive.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Not coming as a direct result; secondary: ''indirect benefits''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Of a title or inheritance, not passed in an unbroken line from father to son.^(Collins 2023)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[indirectly]]

+ * [[indirectness]]

+ * [[indirect cost]]

+ * [[indirect discourse]]

+ * [[indirect free kick]]

+ * [[indirect object]]

+ * [[indirect tax]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[indirection]]

+ * [[direct]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}