indirect
/ˌɪn.dɪˈɹɛkt/ adjective B1- Not direct · While not mentioning any of their competitors by name, the CEO made some indirect statements that they were acting immorally.· Se asked him some indirect questions to ascertain whether he was single.
- Not of obvious or immediate cause, but as a secondary result.
- Not focused straight at the target or subject; whose true aim appears secondary or obscure.
- Not involving the quickest, shortest, or most convenient path; oblique. · In an effort to beat the traffic jams, they opted to take an indirect route to their destination.
- Employing argument by contradiction; making use the law of the excluded middle; arguing via the contrapositive.
- Figuratively
From the library
They led, however, in an indirect fashion to a singular and complex problem which gave my friend an opportunity of demonstrating the value of a fresh weapon among the many with which he waged his life-long battle against crime.
It is often only carelessness of opinion, and sometimes an indirect boast.”
“The indirect boast; for you are really proud of your defects in writing, because you consider them as proceeding from a rapidity of thought and carelessness of execution, which, if not estimable, you think at least highly interesting.
“Anything which may seem to have a bearing however indirect upon the case, and especially the relations between young Baskerville and his neighbours or any fresh particulars concerning the death of Sir Charles.
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