Indirect \In`di*rect"\, a. [Pref. in- not + direct: cf. F.
indirect.]
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1. Not direct; not straight or rectilinear; deviating from a
direct line or course; circuitous; as, an indirect road.
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2. Not tending to an aim, purpose, or result by the plainest
course, or by obvious means, but obliquely or
consequentially; by remote means; as, an indirect
accusation, attack, answer, or proposal.
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By what bypaths and indirect, crooked ways
I met this crown. --Shak.
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3. Not straightforward or upright; unfair; dishonest; tending
to mislead or deceive.
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Indirect dealing will be discovered one time or
other. --Tillotson.
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4. Not resulting directly from an act or cause, but more or
less remotely connected with or growing out of it; as,
indirect results, damages, or claims.
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5. (Logic & Math.) Not reaching the end aimed at by the most
plain and direct method; as, an indirect proof,
demonstration, etc.
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Indirect claims, claims for remote or consequential damage.
Such claims were presented to and thrown out by the
commissioners who arbitrated the damage inflicted on the
United States by the Confederate States cruisers built and
supplied by Great Britain.
Indirect demonstration, a mode of demonstration in which
proof is given by showing that any other supposition
involves an absurdity (reductio ad absurdum), or an
impossibility; thus, one quantity may be proved equal to
another by showing that it can be neither greater nor
less.
Indirect discourse. (Gram.) See Direct discourse, under
Direct.
Indirect evidence, evidence or testimony which is
circumstantial or inferential, but without witness; --
opposed to direct evidence.
Indirect tax, a tax, such as customs, excises, etc.,
exacted directly from the merchant, but paid indirectly by
the consumer in the higher price demanded for the articles
of merchandise.
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