adj. 1 not going straight to the point. 2 (of a route etc.) not straight. 3 not directly sought or aimed at (an indirect result). 4 (of lighting) from a concealed source and diffusely reflected. indirect object Gram. a person or thing affected by a verbal action but not primarily acted on (e.g. him in give him the book). indirect question Gram. a question in reported speech (e.g. they asked who I was). indirect speech (or oration) = reported speech (see REPORT). indirect tax a tax levied on goods and services and not on income or profits. indirectly adv. indirectness n.
[ ME f. OF indirect or med.L indirectus (as IN-(1), DIRECT) ]