Etymology of the English word direct
the English word
directderived from the Latin word
directus (person given rights by direct procedure; steep; level; open; straight, not curved; moving straight forward; vertical, upright, perpendicular)
derived from the Latin word
dirigere (arrange, set in line, direction; direct , turn; mark, fix; demarcate; point; direct)
derived from the New Latin word
di-derived from the Greek word
di-, δι-, δί-
derived from the Greek word
dis, δίς (double; twice)
derived from the Latin word
rigere (be stiff or numb; stand on end; be solidified)
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*reig-Date
The earliest known usage of direct in English dates from the 14th century.
Derivations in English
directed,
misdirect,
redirect,
directly,
directingCognates
Dutch
direct, Dutch
dirigeren, French
diriger, French
direct, German
direkt, German
dirigieren, Norwegian
direkte, Norwegian
dirigere, Provençal
direct, Spanish
directo, Spanish
dirigir, Swedish
direkt, Swedish
dirigera, Yiddish
direktUsage
Word found in Modern English
