† dirigentadj.n.
/ˈdɪrɪdʒənt/ Obsolete.
A. adj.
1. That directs, directing, directive.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > control > [adjective] > of or relating to direction > directing
directorya1450
directive1593
dirigent1617
ordering1678
directing1719
directoral1874
masterminding1973
1617 S. Collins Epphata to F. T. ii. ix. 359 Imperant only, not elicient; dirigent, not exequent, as your School-men loue to speak.
2. Pharmacology. Formerly applied to certain ingredients in prescriptions which were held to guide the action of the rest.
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1854 R. G. Mayne Expos. Lexicon Med. Sci. (1860) 278/1.
3. Geometry. (See quot. 1704.)
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1704 J. Harris Lexicon Technicum I. (J.) The dirigent line in geometry is that along which the line describent is carried in the generation of any figure.
B. n.
1. = director n. 1.
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society > authority > control > person in control > [noun] > director
mastereOE
steerc897
ordainerc1443
director1477
rector1482
sayer1483
orderer1496
solicitera1530
temperator1591
ordinator1615
sternera1634
dirigent1756
chargé d'affaires1797
quarterback1931
1756 T. Amory Life John Buncle I. 43 You will be the guide and dirigent of all my notions and my days.
2. Pharmacology. A dirigent ingredient: cf. A. 2.
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1855 C. A. Harris Dict. Med. Terminol., Dental Surg., & Collateral Sci. (ed. 2) 233/2 Dirigent, that constituent in a prescription which directs the action of the associated substances.
3. Geometry. A dirigent line: see A. 3.
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1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) Dirigent, the Line of Motion along which, the Describent Line or Surface is carry'd in the Genesis or Production of any plain or solid Figure.
1796 in C. Hutton Math. & Philos. Dict.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1896; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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adj.n.1617