nondirected
|non-di-rect-ed|
🇺🇸
/ˌnɑn.dɪˈrɛk.tɪd/
🇬🇧
/ˌnɒn.dɪˈrɛk.tɪd/
not given direction
Etymology
'nondirected' originates from the English prefix 'non-' (from Latin 'non') meaning 'not', plus the past participle 'directed' which comes from Latin 'directus', where 'dirigere' meant 'to guide or direct'.
'direct' passed from Latin 'directus' (from 'dirigere') into Old French and then Middle English as 'direct'; 'directed' is the past participle form in English, and in modern English the prefix 'non-' was attached to form 'nondirected'.
Initially the root 'direct' meant 'to guide or set a course'; over time the compound 'nondirected' has come to mean 'not given a direction or guidance'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
not directed; lacking a specific direction, aim, or guidance; unguided or without intentional orientation.
The researchers used a nondirected interview format to let participants raise issues in their own way.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/06 12:47