1. A directress. [R.] Jer. Taylor.
2. (Geom.) (a) A line along which a point in another line moves, or which in any way governs the motion of the point and determines the position of the curve generated by it; the line along which the generatrix moves in generating a surface. (b) A straight line so situated with respect to a conic section that the distance of any point of the curve from it has a constant ratio to the distance of the same point from the focus.
DIREFUL
Dire"ful, a. Etym: [Dire + -ful.]
Defn: Dire; dreadful; terrible; calamitous; woeful; as, a direful
fiend; a direful day.
— Dire"ful*ly, adv.
— Dire"ful*ness, n.
DIRELY
Dire"ly, adv.
Defn: In a dire manner. Drayton.
DIREMPT Di*rempt", a. Etym: [L. diremptus, p. p. of dirimere to take apart, separate; di- = dis- + emere to buy, orig., to take.]
Defn: Divided; separated. [Obs.] Stow.
DIREMPT
Di*rempt", v. t.
Defn: To separate by force; to tear apart. [Obs.] Holinshed.