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Adjective: indirect  ,in-du'rekt or ,in,dI'rekt
  1. Having intervening factors, persons or influences
    "an indirect cause"; "reflection from the ceiling provided a soft indirect light"; "indirect evidence"
     
  2. 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"
     
  3. Descended from a common ancestor but through different lines
    "an indirect descendant of the Stuarts";
    - collateral
     
  4. Not direct in manner, language, behaviour or action
    "doubtless they had some indirect purpose in mind"; "though his methods are indirect they are not dishonest"; "known as a shady indirect fellow"; "making indirect but legitimate inquiries"; "an indirect insult"
     
  5. Not as a direct effect or consequence
    "indirect benefits"; "an indirect advantage"

See also: allusive, ambagious [archaic], askance, askant, asquint, backdoor, backhanded, circuitous, circumlocutious [archaic], circumlocutory, crooked, devious, digressive, directness, discursive, diversionary, excursive, hearsay, mealymouthed, mealy-mouthed, meandering, mediate, oblique, periphrastic, rambling, related, roundabout, secondary, sidelong, squint, squint-eyed, squinty, straightness, tortuous, wandering, winding

Antonym: direct

Encyclopedia: Indirect