Part 305

Direct-acting steam engine, one in which motion is transmitted to the crank without the intervention of a beam or lever; -- also called direct-action steam engine. -- Direct-acting steam pump, one in which the steam piston rod is directly connected with the pump rod; -- also called direct-action steam pump.

Di*rect"er (?), n. One who directs; a director.

Directer plane (Geom.), the plane to which all right-lined elements in a warped surface are parallel.

Di*rec"tion (?), n. [L. directio: cf. F. direction.] 1. The act of directing, of aiming, regulating, guiding, or ordering; guidance; management; superintendence; administration; as, the direction o&?; public affairs or of a bank.

I do commit his youth To your direction.

Shak.

All nature is but art, unknown to thee; ll chance, direction, which thou canst not see.

Pope.

2. That which is imposed by directing; a guiding or authoritative instruction; prescription; order; command; as, he grave directions to the servants.

The princes digged the well . . . by the direction of the law giver.

Numb. xxi. 18.

3. The name and residence of a person to whom any thing is sent, written upon the thing sent; superscription; address; as, the direction of a letter.

4. The line or course upon which anything is moving or aimed to move, or in which anything is lying or pointing; aim; line or point of tendency; direct line or course; as, the ship sailed in a southeasterly direction.

5. The body of managers of a corporation or enterprise; board of directors.

6. (Gun.) The pointing of a piece with reference to an imaginary vertical axis; -- distinguished from elevation. The direction is given when the plane of sight passes through the object. Wilhelm.

Syn. -- Administration; guidance; management; superintendence; oversight; government; order; command; guide; clew. Direction, Control, Command, Order. These words, as here compared, have reference to the exercise of power over the actions of others. Control is negative, denoting power to restrain; command is positive, implying a right to enforce obedience; directions are commands containing instructions how to act. Order conveys more prominently the idea of authority than the word direction. A shipmaster has the command of his vessel; he gives orders or directions to the seamen as to the mode of sailing it; and exercises a due control over the passengers.

Di*rect"ive (?), a. [LL. directivus: cf. F. directif.] 1. Having power to direct; tending to direct, guide, or govern; showing the way. Hooker.

The precepts directive of our practice in relation to God.

Barrow.

2. Able to be directed; manageable. [Obs.]

Swords and bows Directive by the limbs.

Shak.

Di*rect"ly, adv. 1. In a direct manner; in a straight line or course. "To run directly on." Shak.

Indirectly and directly too Thou hast contrived against the very life Of the defendant.

Shak.

2. In a straightforward way; without anything intervening; not by secondary, but by direct, means.

3. Without circumlocution or ambiguity; absolutely; in express terms.

No man hath hitherto been so impious as plainly and directly to condemn prayer.