Dictionary: DI-PYRE' – DI-REMP'TION

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DI-PYRE', n.

A mineral occurring in minute prisms, either single or adhering to each other in fascicular groups. Before the blowpipe, it melts with ebullition or intumescence, and its powder on hot coals phosphoresces with a feeble light. Its name, from Gr. δυο, two, and πυρ, fire, indicates the double effect of fire, in producing fusion and phosphorescence. – Cleaveland.

DI-RA-DI-A'TION, n. [L. diradiatio.]

The rays of light emitted and diffused from a luminous body.

DIRE, a. [L. dirus. If the primary sense is terrible, this word may belong to the root of terreo. But it may be great, wonderful, Syr. ܬܗܪ ther, to wonder; or it may be raging, furious, as in L. diræ.]

Dreadful; dismal; horrible; terrible; evil in a great degree. Dire was the tossing, deep the groans. – Milton.

DI-RECT', a. [L. directus, from dirigo; di and rego, rectus, to make straight. See Right.]

  1. Straight; right; as, to pass in a direct line from one body or place to another. It is opposed to crooked, winding, oblique. It is also opposed to refracted; as, a direct ray of light.
  2. In astronomy, appearing to move forward in the zodiac, in the direction of the signs; opposed to retrograde; as, the motion of a planet is direct.
  3. In the line of father and son; opposed to collateral; as, a descendant in the direct line.
  4. Leading or tending to an end, as by a straight line or course; not circuitous. Thus we speak of direct means to effect an object; a direct course; a direct way.
  5. Open; not ambiguous or doubtful. – Bacon.
  6. Plain; express; not ambiguous; as, he said this in direct words; he made a direct acknowledgment.
  7. In music, a direct interval is that which forms any kind of harmony on the fundamental sound which produces it; as the fifth, major third, and octave. – Rousseau. Direct tax, is a tax assessed on real estate, as houses and lands.

DI-RECT', n.

In music, a character placed at the end of a stave to direct the performer to the first note of the stave. – Busby.

DI-RECT', v.t. [L. directum, directus, from dirigo.]

  1. To point or aim in a straight line, toward a place or object; as, to direct an arrow or a piece of ordnance; to direct the eye; to direct a course or flight.
  2. To point; to show the right road or course; as, he directed me to the left hand road.
  3. To regulate; to guide or lead; to govern; to cause to proceed in a particular manner; as, to direct the affairs of a nation. Wisdom is profitable to direct. – Eccles. x.
  4. To prescribe a course; to mark out a way. – Job xxxvii.
  5. To order; to instruct; to point out a course of proceeding with authority, to command. But direct is a softer term than command.

DI-RECT'ED, pp.

Aimed; pointed; guided; regulated; governed; ordered; instructed.

DI-RECT'ER, n.

A director – which see.

DI-RECT'ING, ppr.

Aiming; pointing; guiding; regulating; governing; ordering.

DI-REC'TION, n. [L. directio.]

  1. Aim at a certain point; a pointing toward, in a straight line or course; as, the direction of good works to a good end. – Smalridge.
  2. The line in which a body moves by impulse; course. Matter or body can not alter the direction of its own motion.
  3. A straight line or course. A star appeared in the direction of a certain tower. The ship sailed in a south-easterly direction.
  4. The act of governing; administration; management; guidance; superintendence; as, the direction of public affairs; direction of domestic concerns; the direction of a bank.
  5. Regularity; adjustment. All chance, direction which thou canst not see. – Pope.
  6. Order; prescription, either verbal or written; instruction in what manner to proceed. The employer gives directions to his workmen; the physician, to his patient.
  7. The superscription of a lesser, including the name, title, and place of abode of the person for whom it is intended.
  8. A body or board of directors.

DI-RECT'IVE, a.

  1. Having the power of direction; as, a directive rule. – Hooker.
  2. Informing; instructing; showing the way.

DI-RECT'LY, adv.

  1. In a straight line or course; rectilineally; not in a winding course. Aim directly to the object. Gravity tends directly to the center of the earth. As a direct line is the shortest course; hence,
  2. Immediately; soon; without delay; as, he will be with us directly.
  3. Openly; expressly; without circumlocution or ambiguity; or without a train of inferences. No man hath been so impious, as directly to condemn prayer. – Hooker.

DI-RECT'NESS, n.

Straightness; a straight course; nearness of way. – Bentley.

DI-RECT'OR, n.

  1. One who directs; one who superintends, governs, or manages; one who prescribes to others, by virtue of authority; an instructor; a counselor.
  2. That which directs; a rule; an ordinance.
  3. One appointed to transact the affairs of a company; as, the director of a bank, or of the India Company.
  4. That which directs or controls by influence. Safety from external danger is the most powerful director of national conduct. – Federalist, Hamilton.
  5. In surgery, a grooved probe, intended to direct the edge of the knife or scissors in opening sinuses or fistulæ; a guide for an incision-knife. – Encyc. Coxe.

DI-RECT-O'RI-AL, a.

Pertaining to directors or direction; containing direction or command.

DI-RECT'O-RY, a.

Containing directions; enjoining; instructing.

DI-RECT'O-RY, n.

  1. A guide; a rule to direct; particularly, a book containing directions for public worship, or religious services. The Bible is our best directory, in faith and practice.
  2. A book containing an alphabetical list of the inhabitants of a city, with their places of abode.
  3. The supreme council of France, in the late revolution.
  4. A board of directors.

DI-RECT'RESS, n.

A female who directs or manages.

DI-RECT'RIX, n.

A female who governs or directs.

DI-RECT'RIX, n.

In geometry, a straight line perpendicular to the axis of a conic section.

DIRE'FUL, a. [See Dire.]

Dire; dreadful; terrible; calamitous; as, direful fiend; a direful misfortune. – Spenser. Dryden. Pope.

DIRE'FUL-LY, adv.

Dreadfully; terribly; woefully.

DIRE'FUL-NESS, n.

Calamitousness.

DIRE'-LOOK-ING, a.

Looking direfully.

DI-REMP'TION, n. [L. diremptio.]

A separation. – Bp. Hall.