direct English · revision 2688

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1385, Chaucer|origins=la regō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|directen]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) [[bor|la|dīrēctus|t=straight]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) the past participle of [[m|la|dīrigō|t=I set straight, arrange, guide]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from dis- “apart” and [[m|la|regō|t=I direct, guide, keep straight]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) which Etymonline takes to [[ine-pro|*h₃reǵ-|alt=*reg-|t=to move in a straight line]].^(Etymonline) The adjective is from Old French direct and Latin dīrēctus.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) It is a doublet of [[dress]], and compare [[address]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The verb, “to address (a letter or words) straight to someone”: about 1385, in Chaucer's ''Troilus and Criseyde'',^(Barnhart 1988) the late 14th century;^(Etymonline) the adjective, “straight”, is from 1391, in Chaucer's ''Treatise on the Astrolabe''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ “To point or aim in a straight line toward” is from about 1400,^(Etymonline) and “to govern, regulate, prescribe the course of” from the early 15th century.^(Etymonline) “To order, ordain” is from the 1650s.^(Etymonline) Writing the destination on a letter is from 1588.^(OED 1989) The adjective's sense “plain, unambiguous” is from the 1580s.^(Etymonline) Of plays and films, “to supervise and control the making of”, the verb is attested from 1913.^(Etymonline) ''Direction'' is from about 1385,^(Barnhart 1988) and ''directive'' from about 1454.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1385 – verb, to address, and ''direction''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1391 – adjective, straight.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1400 – to aim.^(Etymonline)

+ * early 15th century – to govern, regulate.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1580s – plain, unambiguous.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1650s – to order.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1913 – to direct a play or film.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To manage, control or guide.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To give an order to; to instruct.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To show someone the way.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To aim or point toward something.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To address (remarks or a letter) to someone.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To supervise the making of (a [[film]] or play).^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Going straight from one place to another without stopping or turning.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Without anything or anyone in between: ''direct contact''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Saying what one means plainly; [[frank]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Exact or absolute: ''the direct opposite''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # Straight; without stopping: ''fly direct to Rome''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[directable]]

+ * [[directness]]

+ * [[semidirect]]

+ * [[directrix]]

+ * [[codirect]]

+ * [[misdirect]]

+ * [[redirect]]

+ * [[direct action]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[adroit]]

+ * [[direction]]

+ * [[directly]]

+ * [[director]]

+ * [[dirge]]

+ * [[dirigible]]

+ * [[dress]]

+ * [[directory]]

+ * [[directive]]

+ * [[address]]

+ * [[rector]]

+ * [[rule]]

+ * [[regal]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In west Somerset and Devon dialect ''direct'' was a noun meaning practical sense that can be relied on.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}