INDIRECT

indirect

(adjective) not direct in spatial dimension; not leading by a straight line or course to a destination; “sometimes taking an indirect path saves time”; “you must take an indirect course in sailing”

indirect

(adjective) extended senses; not direct in manner or language or behavior or action; “making indirect but legitimate inquiries”; “an indirect insult”; “doubtless they had some indirect purpose in mind”; “though his methods are indirect they are not dishonest”; “known as a shady indirect fellow”

indirect

(adjective) having intervening factors or persons or influences; “reflection from the ceiling provided a soft indirect light”; “indirect evidence”; “an indirect cause”

collateral, indirect

(adjective) descended from a common ancestor but through different lines; “cousins are collateral relatives”; “an indirect descendant of the Stuarts”

indirect

(adjective) not as a direct effect or consequence; “indirect benefits”; “an indirect advantage”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Adjective

indirect (comparative more indirect, superlative most indirect)

Not direct; roundabout.

Antonyms

• direct

Noun

indirect (plural indirects)

(finance) An indirect cost.

Verb

indirect (third-person singular simple present indirects, present participle indirecting, simple past and past participle indirected)

(programming, transitive) To access by means of indirection; to dereference.

Anagrams

• indicter, reindict

Source: Wiktionary

In`di*rect", a. Etym: [Pref. in- not + direct: cf. F. indirect.]

1. Not direct; not straight or rectilinear; deviating from a direct line or course; circuitous; as, an indirect road.

2. Not tending to an aim, purpose, or result by the plainest course, or by obvious means, but obliquely or consequentially; by remote means; as, an indirect accusation, attack, answer, or proposal. By what bypaths and indirect, crooked ways I met this crown. Shak.

3. Not straightforward or upright; unfair; dishonest; tending to mislead or deceive. Indirect dealing will be discovered one time or other. Tillotson.

4. Not resulting directly from an act or cause, but more or less remotely connected with or growing out of it; as, indirect results, damages, or claims.

5. (Logic & Math.)

Definition: Not reaching the end aimed at by the most plain and direct method; as, an indirect proof, demonstration, etc. Indirect claims, claims for remote or consequential damage. Such claims were presented to and thrown out by the commissioners who arbitrated the damage inflicted on the United States by the Confederate States cruisers built and supplied by Great Britain.

– Indirect demonstration, a mode of demonstration in which proof is given by showing that any other supposition involves an absurdity (reductio ad absurdum), or an impossibility; thus, one quantity may be proved equal to another by showing that it can be neither greater nor less.

– Indirect discourse. (Gram.) See Direct discourse, under Direct.

– Indirect evidence, evidence or testimony which is circumstantial or inferential, but without witness; -- opposed to direct evidence.

– Indirect tax, a tax, such as customs, excises, etc., exacted directly from the merchant, but paid indirectly by the consumer in the higher price demanded for the articles of merchandise.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition