Di*rec"tion (?), n. [L.
directio: cf. F. direction.] 1.
The act of directing, of aiming, regulating, guiding, or
ordering; guidance; management; superintendence; administration; as,
the direction o&?; public affairs or of a bank.
I do commit his youth
To your direction.
Shak.
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.
6. (Gun.) The pointing of a piece with
reference to an imaginary vertical axis; -- distinguished from
elevation. The direction is given when the plane of
sight passes through the object. Wilhelm.
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.
