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Webster 1913 Edition

Direction

Di-rec′tion

,
Noun.
[L.
directio
: cf. F.
direction
.]
1.
The act of directing, of aiming, regulating, guiding, or ordering; guidance; management; superintendence; administration;
as, the
direction
o[GREEK] public affairs or of a bank
.
I do commit his youth
To your
direction
.
Shakespeare
All nature is but art, unknown to thee;
ll chance,
direction
, which thou canst not see.
Pope.
2.
That which is imposed by directing; a guiding or authoritative instruction; prescription; order; command;
as, he grave
directions
to the servants
.
The princes digged the well . . . by the
direction
of the law giver.
Numb. xxi. 18.
3.
The name and residence of a person to whom any thing is sent, written upon the thing sent; superscription; address;
as, the
direction
of a letter
.
4.
The line or course upon which anything is moving or aimed to move, or in which anything is lying or pointing; aim; line or point of tendency; direct line or course;
as, the ship sailed in a southeasterly
direction
.
5.
The body of managers of a corporation or enterprise; board of directors.
Syn. – Administration; guidance; management; superintendence; oversight; government; order; command; guide; clew.
Direction
,
Control
,
Command
,
Order
. These words, as here compared, have reference to the exercise of power over the actions of others. Control is negative, denoting power to restrain; command is positive, implying a right to enforce obedience; directions are commands containing instructions how to act. Order conveys more prominently the idea of authority than the word direction. A shipmaster has the command of his vessel; he gives orders or directions to the seamen as to the mode of sailing it; and exercises a due control over the passengers.

Webster 1828 Edition

Direction

DIRECTION

,
Noun.
[L.]
1.
Aim at a certain point; a pointing towards, in a straight line or course; as, the direction of good works to a good end.
2.
The line in which a body moves by impulse; course. Matter or body cannot alter the direction of its own motion.
3.
A straight line or course. A star appeared int eh direction of a certain tower. The ship sailed in a south-easterly direction.
4.
The act of governing; administration; management; guidance; superintendence; as the direction of public affairs; direction of domestic concerns; the direction of a bank.
5.
Regularity; adjustment.
All chance, direction which thou canst not see.
6.
Order; prescription; either verbal or written; instruction in what manner to proceed. The employer gives directions to his workmen; the physician, to his patient.
7.
The superscription of a letter, including the name, title and place of abode of the person for whom it is intended.
8.
A body or board of directors.

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