də̇|rek|twär, dē|r-, |dēˌr- adjective
Usage: usually capitalized
Etymology: French, from Directoire, the body of five men that held executive power in France from 1795-1799, from directoire directory (book-influenced in meaning by directeur director), from Middle French, from Medieval Latin directorium — more at directory
: of, relating to, or imitative of the kind or style prevalent in France during the French Revolution: as
a. of women's clothes : imitative of classic dress and marked by a picturesque hat with a flaring brim and a décolleté gown usually with short sleeves and a skirt hanging straight down like a tube from a waistline just under the bust
b. of furniture : transitional between the Louis Seize style and the Empire style and not sharply distinguishable from the latter