THE
`NEW SHORTER
`OXFORD ENGLISH
`DICTIONARY
`ON HISTORICAL PRINCIPLES
`
`EDITED BY
`
`LESLEY BROWN
`
`VOLUME 1
`A-M
`
`CLARENDON PRESS • OXFORD
`
`
`
`NFLE 1011 - Page 1
`
`

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`Oxford University Press, Walton Street, Oxford oxz 6DP
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`Oxford is a trade mark of Oxford University Press
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`Published in the United States by
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`Oxford University Press 1973,1993
`
`First Edition 1933
`Second Edition 1936
`Third Edition 1944
`Reprinted with Revised Etymologies and Enlarged Addenda 1973
`This Edition 1993
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`
`Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
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`
`ISBN 0-19-861134-X Plain Edition
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`3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4
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`NFLE 1011 - Page 2
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`

`

`directive
`
`6So
`
`relation to the point towards which it is moving;
`the line towards anything in its relation to a
`given line; a point to or from which a person
`moves, turns, etc. m17. b fig. The course of
`development of thought, effort, or action; a
`distinct tendency or trend; linear or consistent
`progress. MIS, 7 = DIRECTORATE. arch. Ea.
`I SHAKES. Oth. A soldier fit to stand by Caesar And
`give direction. GEo. ELIOT She felt the need of
`direction even in small things. D. FRASER The Chiefs
`of Staff Committee was concerned with the overall
`direction of war. 3 GOLDSMITH Provide him with
`proper directions for finding me in London. 5 SHAKES,
`Rich. III Call for some men of sound direction. 6 J.
`BUCHAN Making farther from London in the direction
`of some western port. N. MosLEY She appeared to be
`seen from two directions at once. b B. JowErr New
`directions of enquiry. Times Gold shares
`lacked
`direction with the bullion price virtually unchanged.
`Phrases: sense of direction the ability to know
`without guidance towards which place one is walking
`etc. stage direction: see STAGE n.
`Comb.: direction-finder a device for direction-
`finding; direction-finding the process of finding the
`direction from which radio waves are coming;
`direction-indicator a device showing the direction in
`which the driver is about to turn a motor vehicle.
`directional a. (a) pertaining to the giving or taking
`of directions; (b) of or pertaining to direction in space,
`esp. of radio transmission within a narrow angle; (of a
`well) drilled at an angle
`to
`the vertical: E17.
`d'irectio'nality n. directional quality; maintenance of
`direction: M2C. directionally adv. L19. directionless
`a. lacking aim or direction M19. directionlessness n,
`Mao.
`n. M17, [med.L
`directive ]thrEktiv,
`directivum use as n. of neut. of directions: see
`next.] Something which directs; spec. a general
`instruction for procedure or action given to a
`subordinate,
`H. KISSINGER The ABM directive went the way of
`many other Presidential instructions to the Defense
`Department.
`Si Rare bef. E20.
`directive !clerEktiv, dm-, a. LME. [med.L
`directivus, f. L direct- pa. ppl stem of dirigere: see
`DIRECT V., -IVE. Cf. (0)Fr. directif, -ire.] 1
`Having the quality, function, or power of
`directing; serving to direct. LME. -1-2 Subject to
`direction. rare (Shakes.). Only in E17.
`1 J. S. Mna. Utility or Happiness, considered as the
`directive rule of human conduct. J. C. MazwELL The
`directive action of the earth's magnetism on the
`compass needle. A. STORK Those who are directive by
`nature.
`directively adv. in a directive manner; so as to
`direct or guide: M17. directiveness n. Erg.
`direcLivity n.
`;a) the quality or state of being
`directed by a vital force or by God; (b) the property or
`degree of being directional: E20.
`directly tclerEktli, dm-/ adv. & conj. LME. [f.
`DIRECT a. + -LY5.] A adv. 1 In a straight line;
`without deviation; Math.
`linearly. LME. 2
`Straightforwardly; plainly; pointedly. LME. 3
`Completely,
`absolutely; exactly. LME. 4
`Without an intermediary; by a direct process.
`516. 5 At right angles to a surface, not obliquely.
`M16. 6 At once, immediately; presently, in a
`little while. 517.
`1 L. HELLMAN I went directly to Paris. DAY LEWIS
`Her mother - was directly descended from Oliver
`Goldsmith's uncle. 2 BURKE I asked him his opinion
`directly, and without management. 3 J. M. COETZEE A
`clap burst directly over him and it began to pour. 4 B.
`PYM She did not like to approach me directly. 5 V.
`WooLF The rain poured down more directly and
`powerfully as the wind fell..6 V. WOOLF She went off
`directly after tea. I. MURDOCH I'll be back directly.
`B conj. As soon as, the moment after. L18.
`G. GREENE He realized how childish he sounded
`directly he had spoken.
`Directoire IderEktwa:; foreign direktwa:r (pl. of
`n. same)/ n. & a. L18. [Fr, f. as DIRECTORY n.] A
`n. Hist. The French Directory. L18.
`B adj. Also d-. Of, pertaining to, or resembling
`an extravagant style of fashion, decorative art,
`etc., prevalent at the time of the Directory and
`characterized esp. by an imitation of Greek and
`Roman modes, Lig.
`Directoire knickers women's knee-length knickers
`with elastic or bands at the waist and knee.
`
`dirty
`dirgeful a. full of lamentation, mournful LII.
`dirham /tharam/ n. Also -hem. La. [Arab.
`Gk drachnzif (see DRACHNIA).] A monetary unit of
`Morocco (now the basic unit), Libya, the
`United Arab Emirates (the basic unit), Qatar,
`and formerly some other Middle Eastern
`countries, equal to too centimes in Morocco,
`one-thousandth of a dinar in Libya, too Ells in
`the United Arab Emirates, and one-hundredth
`of a riyal in Qatar. Formerly also, an Arabian
`unit of weight.
`dirige n. see DIRGE.
`t diligent a. & n. 517-m19. [L dirigenr- pros.
`ppl stem of dirigere DIRECT v.: see -EN-rd
`(Something) that directs or guides.
`dirigible /'clind3lb(a)1/ a. & n. L16, [f. L dirigere
`DIRECT v. + -IBLE.] A adj. Able to be directed,
`spec. in respect of motion. L16, B n. A dirigible
`balloon or airship. Lt9.
`the quality of being dirigible,
`dirigibility n.
`controllability L19.
`n. Also dirigism
`/diri3ism/
`dirigisme
`Pcirrid31z(a)ml. M20. [Fr., f. clinger f. L dirigere
`DIRECT v.: see -Ism.] The policy of State
`direction and control in economic and social
`matters.
`dirigiste jdiriaist, a. of or pertaining to dirigisme
`5520.
`dirirnent nimm(a)nt/ a. MI9. [L diriment-
`pres. ppl stem of dirinzere: see DIREMPT v., -ENT.]
`That renders absolutely void; nullifying.
`diriment impediment: making a marriage null and
`void from the first.
`dirk Mask / n. & v. Also (earlier) t durk.
`[Origin unkn.] A n. A kind of short dagger, esp.
`that of a Scottish Highlander. nr16. B v.r. Stab
`with a dirk. L16.
`dirl /dad/ v. & n. Sc. & north. Er6. [Alt. of THIRL
`v.l] A v. 1 v. t. Pierce, thrill; cause to tingle, esp.
`by a sharp blow. E16. 2 v.i. Vibrate, esp. in
`response to a blow, a sound, etc.; tingle. Ea. 3
`v. i. Produce a vibrating sound; ring. Erg. B n. A
`thrill, a vibration; a tremulous sound. L18.
`dirndl Pdamd(p)l/ n. M20. [G dial., dim. of
`Dime girl.] 1 A dress in the style of Alpine
`peasant costume with a bodice and full skirt.
`M20. 2 More fully dirndl skirt. A full skirt with a
`tight waistband. M20.
`dirt /daft/ n. & v. ME. [ON drit excrement,
`corresp. to MDu. drae (Du. dreet), rel. to the
`vbs OE gedritan = ON drita, MDu. drIten (Du.
`drijten).] A n. 1 Excrement, faeces. ME. 2
`Unclean matter that soils, filth; esp. mud, mire,
`ME. 3 fig. Something worthless or (US, Austral.,
`& NZ slang) mean; scurrilous
`information,
`scandal; a despicable person. ME. 4 Dirtiness,
`foulness, uncleanness, (lit. & fig.); meanness,
`sordidness. 517. 5 Earth, soil. L17. 6 Mining etc.
`Useless material, esp, that from which an ore or
`other useful substance is separated. La. 7 Bad
`weather. dial. M19. 8 Firedamp. Mig.
`3 SHAKES. Howl. Spacious in the possession of dirt.
`L. G. GIBBON The dirt of gentry sat and ate up your
`rents but you were as good as they were. L. ALTHEA
`What's the point of having grown children if they
`won't tell you the dirt?
`Phrases: do dirt to slang harm or injure maliciously.
`eat dirt (a) accept insults or humiliation; (b) US
`make a humiliating confession. kiss the dirt: see KISS V.
`pay-dirt: see PAY-. treat like dirt: as worthless or
`contemptible.
`Comb.: dirt bike a motorcycle designed for unmade
`roads and scrambling across difficult terrain; dirt
`cheap a. & adv. Very cheap; dirt-eating a disease
`characterized by a morbid craving to eat earth; dirt
`farmer US: who farms his own land himself; dirt
`money: paid to workmen handling dirty materials or
`working in dirty conditions; dirt-pie a mud-pie; dirt
`mad N. Amer. an unmade road, with only the natural
`surface; dirt-track a course made of rolled cinders,
`brick-dust, etc., for motorcycle racing etc., or of earth
`for flat-racing; dirt-wagon US a dustcart.
`B v. t. Make dirty, soil. arch. L16.
`dirtless a. E17.
`dirty Pda:ti/ a., n., & adv. LME. [f. DIRT n. +
`-v'.] A adj. 1 Soiled with dirt, unclean. LME. b
`That makes a person or thing dirty or unclean.
`La. c Of a nuclear weapon: producing a lot of
`fallout. colloq. Mao. 2 a Morally unclean or
`b but, d dog, f few, g get, h he, j yes, k cat, I leg, m man, n no, p pen, r red, s sit, t top, v van, w we, z zoo, j she, 3 vision, 0 thin, 3 this, g ring, t[ chip, d3 jar
`
`director /thrEkta, rims/ tt. LIVIE. [AN direcrour
`f. late L director, f. L direct- pa. ppl stem of
`dirigere: see DIRECT v., -OR.] I 1 A person who or
`thing which directs, governs, or guides; a
`manager, a superintendent. LME. 2 A member
`of the board that manages the affairs of a
`company. rar7. 3 EccL A spiritual adviser. mr7.
`4 A person who directs a theatre or cinema
`production. Ezo.
`1 director-general the chief administrator of a
`project etc. Director of Public Prosecutions: see
`PROSECUTION it 5.
`I15 A person who or thing which causes
`something to take a particular direction; Surg.
`an instrument for guiding the course of the knife
`etc. when an incision is made, m17.
`directorate
`= DIRECTORSHIP;
`(6)
`n.
`management by directors; (c) a board of directors:
`direc'torial a. (a) of, pertaining to, or of the
`nature of a director or direction; (b) of or pertaining to
`a body of directors; (also D-) belonging to the French
`Directory: L18, direc'torially adv. M19. directorship
`n. the position or office of a director EIS.
`directory iderekt(a)ri, dAt-/ n. LME. [Late L
`direcwrium use as n. of neut. sing. of directonus:
`see next, -oRyll 1 Something that serves to
`direct; a guide; a book of rules or directions, esp.
`one for the conduct of public or private worship,
`an ordinal. LME. b A book containing an
`alphabetical or classified list of the people in
`some category, e.g. telephone subscribers or
`clergy, with information about them. ma. c A
`computer file listing information about a set of
`other files or of programs etc. M20. f 2 A
`surgical director. L17-MtS, 3 A body of
`directors; spec. in Hist. (also D-) the executive of
`five people in power in revolutionary France,
`1795-9. LI8.
`I b telephone directory etc.
`Comb.: directory enquiries a service which
`telephone callers may ring to find the number of a
`subscriber.
`directory iderEkt(a)ri, dm-i a. LME. [Late L
`directorius, f. director DIRECTOR: see -orr52.]
`Serving or tending to direct; guiding; spec.
`designating (any part of) a statute which is
`advisory rather than mandatory in effect.
`directress jarektros,
`n. E17. [f. DIRECTOR
`-Essl.] A female director. Formerly also, a
`governess.
`directrice idersktriLsi n. ht17, [Fr., f. as next.]
`= DIRECTRESS.
`directrix
`'clerEktoks, dm-/ n. Pl. -trices
`. 516. [med.L, fem. of late L DIRECTOR:
`see -TRU.] 1 = DIRECTRESS. E16. 2 Geom. A fixed
`line with reference to which a curve or surface is
`defined; spec. the straight line the distance of
`which from any point on a conic bears a
`constant ratio to the distance of the same point
`from the focus. E18.
`direful 'dmaf(a)1, -ful, a. literary. L16. [Irreg. f.
`DIRE a. + -FIlL.] Presaging dire consequences;
`dreadful, terrible.
`direfully ode, LIE. direfulness n. M17.
`dirempt Jdsrtm(p)t/ v.r. Long rare. Pa. t.
`& pple t dirempt, dirempted. M16. [L
`dirempr- pa. ppl stem of dirisnere, f. dir- DIS- I +
`emote take.] Separate, divide; break off.
`diremption n. (now rare) forcible separation, esp. of
`man and wife; removal: u6.
`t direption n. L15. [L direptio(n-), f. direpr- pa.
`ppl stem of diripere tear asunder, lay waste, f. di-
`DI-'
`rapere tear away: see -ION.] 1 The action
`of snatching away or dragging apart violently.
`I.,15-L17. 2 The sacking or pillaging of a town
`etc. 516-519.
`dirge /da:d3/ n. & v. Also (n., earlier) t dirige.
`ME. [L dirige imper. of. dirigere DIRECT v., first
`wd of the antiphon Dirige, Domine, Deus mous, in
`conspectu tuo riam meam (Ps. 5:8) formerly in the
`Office of the Dead.] A n. 1 RC Ch. The Office
`of the Dead, esp. the morning office. arch. ME. 2
`A song of mourning sung at a funeral etc. or in
`commemoration of the dead; a slow mournful
`song; a lament. 516. 3 A funeral feast, a wake.
`Sc. m17. B v. 1 v.t. Sing a dirge over, commit
`with a dirge. rare. M19. 2 v.r. & i. Sing (as) a
`dirge. L19.
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`NFLE 1011 - Page 3
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