Where does “directional” come from?

Directional comes from English direction, ultimately deriving from Latin dirigo and rego, both meaning "to direct or rule," traced to Proto-Indo-European h₃reǵ- meaning "to guide or govern."

directional (English): Indicating direction; Of or relating to guidance...

Definitions

  1. Indicating direction; Of or relating to guidance...

Ancestry of “directional”, step by step

directional traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via French directionnel

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchdirectionneldirectional
2Frenchdirectiondirection; government; the director of the...
3Latindīrectiodirection (act of directing)
4Latin-tiōtion, -ation, -ing
5Latindissertātiō(spoken) dissertation, discourse, disquisition
6Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
7Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
8Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
9Latincalceusshoe
10Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
11Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

via English direction

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishdirectionA theoretical line followed from a point of...
2Latindirectiodirection; aiming; righteousness
3LatindirigoI lay straight; arrange in lines; I direct,...
4LatinregoI rule, govern; I guide, steer; I oversee, manage

Words derived from “directional

Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ
directional — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer