directory English · revision 14937

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1450|origins=la dīrigō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /dɪˈrek.tər.i/, /daɪˈrek.tər.i/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la-med|dīrēctōrium|t=a guide]], the noun use of the neuter of [[la-lat|dīrēctōrius|t=directive]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) from [[la|dīrēctus|t=set straight]], the past participle of [[m|la|dīrigō|t=to set straight, guide]] (see [[direct]]).^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A guide: the mid-15th century in Etymonline;^(Etymonline) the adjective, guiding, before 1450 in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A book of rules, especially of church services, is from 1543.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) The Westminster Assembly's directory for public worship dates from 1644,^(OED 1989) and the Roman Catholic manual for the daily office from 1759.^(OED 1989) An alphabetical list of the inhabitants of a place is from 1732,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and the telephone directory from 1908.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) A board of directors is a directory by 1803, especially the French Directoire, the five-man government of 1795–99.^(Etymonline)^(Collins 2023) In computing a directory lists the files on a disk.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1450 – guiding (adjective).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1543 – a book of rules.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1644 – the Westminster directory.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1732 – a list of inhabitants.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * by 1803 – a board of directors.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1908 – a telephone directory.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A book listing the names, addresses and telephone numbers of people or firms.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(computing)'' A list of the files on a disk, or an area of a disk that holds them; a [[folder]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A book of directions, especially of rules for church worship.^(Collins 2023)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Serving to direct.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ex-directory]]

+ * [[directory assistance]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[direct]]

+ * [[director]]

+ * [[directive]]

+ * [[dress]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ With a capital, the Directory was the body of five directors that governed France from 1795 until Napoleon overthrew it in 1799.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}