Indirection

Pronunciation: /ɪn.dɪˈrɛk.ʃən/

Definitions of indirection

noun a lack of straightforwardness or honesty in behavior or speech

Example Sentences

A1 She used indirection to indirectly ask for a raise.

A2 The detective employed indirection to gather information without arousing suspicion.

B1 The politician's speech was full of indirection, making it hard to decipher his true intentions.

B2 The author's use of indirection in the novel added layers of complexity to the plot.

C1 The artist's work was characterized by its subtle indirection, leaving viewers to interpret its meaning.

C2 The CEO's communication style often relied on indirection to convey messages in a nuanced way.

Examples of indirection in a Sentence

formal The use of indirection in his writing style allows for multiple interpretations of the text.

informal I don't understand why he always uses so much indirection in his explanations.

slang Stop beating around the bush and just say what you mean, no need for all that indirection.

figurative The politician's speech was full of indirection, making it hard to discern his true intentions.

Grammatical Forms of indirection

• past tense: indirected
• plural: indirections
• comparative: more indirect
• superlative: most indirect
• present tense: indirects
• future tense: will indirect
• perfect tense: have indirected
• continuous tense: is indirecting
• singular: indirection
• positive degree: indirect
• infinitive: to indirect
• gerund: indirecting
• participle: indirected

Origin and Evolution of indirection

First Known Use: 1400 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'indirection' originated from the Latin word 'indirectio', which is derived from the prefix 'in-' meaning 'not' and the word 'directio' meaning 'direct'.

Evolution of the word: Over time, 'indirection' has evolved to refer to the act of not stating something directly or the use of subtle or deceptive means to achieve a goal.