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indirectly

 - 4 dictionary results

in⋅di⋅rect

  [in-duh-rekt, -dahy-]
Use indirectly in a Sentence
–adjective
1. not in a direct course or path; deviating from a straight line; roundabout: an indirect course in sailing.
2. coming or resulting otherwise than directly or immediately, as effects or consequences: an indirect advantage.
3. not direct in action or procedure: His methods are indirect but not dishonest.
4. not straightforward; devious; deceitful: He is known as a shady, indirect fellow.
5. not direct in bearing, application, force, etc.: indirect evidence.
6. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of indirect discourse: an indirect quote.
7. not descending in a direct line of succession, as a title or inheritance.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME < ML indīrēctus. See in- 3 , direct

Related forms:
in⋅di⋅rect⋅ly, adverb
in⋅di⋅rect⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
2. incidental, unintentional, secondary.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To indirectly
in·di·rect   (ĭn'dĭ-rěkt', -dī-)   
adj.  

  1. Diverging from a direct course; roundabout.

    1. Not proceeding straight to the point or object.

    2. Not forthright and candid; devious.

  3. Not directly planned for; secondary: indirect benefits.

  4. Reporting the exact or approximate words of another with such changes as are necessary to bring the original statement into grammatical conformity with the sentence in which it is included: indirect discourse.

  5. Logic Involving, relating to, or being the proof of a statement by the demonstration of the impossibility or absurdity of the statement's negation.

  6. Sports Being a free kick in soccer by which a goal cannot be scored without the ball being touched by a second player.

in'di·rect'ly adv., in'di·rect'ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

indirect 
1474, from M.Fr. indirect (1364), from L. indirectus, from in- "not" + directus (see direct).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: in·di·rect
Pronunciation: "in-d&-'rekt, -dI-
Function: adjective
1 : not direct: as a : not resultingdirectly from an action or cause (as a disease) <indirect effects of malaria> b : involving intermediate or intervening parts or pathways indirect reaction> <indirect attachment of a muscle through tendons>
2 : involving or beingimmunofluorescence in which antibodies of two kinds are used of which the first combine with a specific protein and the second contain a fluorescent label and combine with the antibodies of the firsttype —indirectly adverb
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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