Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “direction” come from?

Direction comes from Latin directio, derived from Latin dirigo (to direct), which developed from Latin rego (to rule), ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European h₃reǵ- (to rule or direct).

direction (English): A theoretical line followed from a point of...

Definitions

  1. A theoretical line followed from a point of...

Ancestry of “direction”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latindirectiodirection; aiming; righteousness
2LatindirigoI lay straight; arrange in lines; I direct,...
3LatinregoI rule, govern; I guide, steer; I oversee, manage
4Proto-Italicregō—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃réǵetito be straightening, to be setting upright
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃reǵ-to straighten, to right oneself; right; just

Words derived from “direction”

  • directional
  • bidirectional
  • unidirectional
  • redirection
  • directionality
  • misdirection
  • multidirectional
  • omnidirectional
  • directionless
  • directionally
  • nondirectional
  • unidirectionally
  • bidirectionally
  • bidirectionality
  • unidirectionality
  • monodirectional
  • codirectional
  • directionlessness
  • undirectional
  • omnidirectionally
  • contradirectional
  • eigendirection
  • omnidirectionality
  • directionlessly
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₃reǵ- →