Di-rēc'tion, n.

n. [Lat. directio, Fr. direction, Sp. direccion, It. direzione.] 1. The act of directing, or of aiming, regulating, guiding, or ordering; guidance; management; superintendence; administration; as, the direction of public affairs or of a bank. All chance, direction, which thou canst not see. Pope.

2. That which is imposed by directing; a guiding or authoritative instruction; prescription; order; command; as, he gave directions to the servants.
3. The name and residence of a person to whom any thing is sent, written upon the thing sent; superscription; address; as, the direction of a letter.
4. The line or course upon which any thing is moving or aimed to move, or in which any thing is lying or pointing; line or point of tendency; as, the ship sailed in a south-easterly direction.
5. The body of persons charged with the management of a matter; board of directors.
6. Directness; promptness; immediateness; expedition. [Obs.] Shak.

Syn.—Administration; guidance; management; superintendence; oversight; government; order; command; guide; clew.—DIRECTION, CONTROL, COMMAND. These words, as here compared, have reference to the exercise of power over the actions of others. Control is negative, denoting power to restrain; command is positive, implying a right to enforce obedience; directions are commands containing instructions how to act. A shipmaster has the command of his vessel; he gives directions to the seamen as to the mode of sailing it; and exercises a due control over the conduct of the passengers.