Direct

1, adj.

Straight; not circuitous; immediate; the first or original. Opposed (1) to indirect: as, a direct or indirect — confession, contempt, damage, docket or index, examination, interest, interrogatory or question, tax, qq. v. Opposed (2) to redirect, the direct over again: as, an examination (g. v.) following a cross-examination. Opposed (3) to cross; as in direct examinar tion; to collateral: as, the direct line of descent; to circumstantial: as, direct evidence; to contingent or remote: as, a direct interest; to consequential: as, direct damages. See those substantives. The " most direct route of travel " between two places, within the meaning of a statute giving a shei> iff mileage for carrying prisoners to a penitentiary, is the railroad, although it is sixty-four miles long while the highway is but thirty-five.' See Distance. To " proceed ■ direct " to a port is to take a direct course, without deviation or unreasonable delay; not, to leave port immediately." What cannot be done directly cannot be done indirectly." •Bixbyu Smith, 49 How. Pr. 63 (1874); Demond v. Burnham, 132 Mass. 341 (1882); Bank of (Columbia v. Lawrence, 1 Am. L. C. 405; Byles, Bills, 275. a [4 Bl. Com. 390; Tidd, Pr. 1109. "E. S. §1674. <Maynard v. Cedar County, 51 Iowa, 431 (1879). 2, V. To guide, instruct, charge. Opposed, misdirect, to instruct- wrongly, to mislead: as, to direct, and to misdirect, a jury in the law which is to regulate its deliberations and verdict. See further CHAnaB, 2 (3, c). Directory. 1, adj. Containing instructions as to what may be done: as, a directory — statute, Clause, trust. Opposed, mandatory, q. V. " Directory," referring to a charter, means that it is to be considered as giving directions which ought to be followed, not as so limiting the power that it cannot be effectually exercised without observing them.' See Legai., Illegal; Prohibition, 1. 3, n. A board of directors, q. v.