indirect

1. Having intervening factors or persons or influences (synset 300774552)
   "reflection from the ceiling provided a soft indirect light"; "indirect evidence"; "an indirect cause"
   similar to: mediate - acting through or dependent on an intervening agency
2. Not direct in spatial dimension;
   Not leading by a straight line or course to a destination (synset 300765898)
   "sometimes taking an indirect path saves time"; "you must take an indirect course in sailing"
   also: crooked - having or marked by bends or angles; not straight or aligned
   tells us about: directness, straightness - trueness of course toward a goal
   similar to:

   • askance, askant, asquint, sidelong, squint, squint-eyed, squinty - (used especially of glances) directed to one side with or as if with doubt or suspicion or envy
   • circuitous, devious, roundabout - deviating from a straight course
   • diversionary - (of tactics e.g.) likely or designed to confuse or deceive
   • meandering, rambling, wandering, winding - of a path e.g.
3. Descended from a common ancestor but through different lines (synset 301420079)
   "cousins are collateral relatives"; "an indirect descendant of the Stuarts"
   also: related - connected by kinship, common origin, or marriage
   same as: collateral
4. Extended senses;
   Not direct in manner or language or behavior or action (synset 300770017)
   "making indirect but legitimate inquiries"; "an indirect insult"; "doubtless they had some indirect purpose in mind"; "though his methods are indirect they are not dishonest"; "known as a shady indirect fellow"
   similar to:

   • allusive - characterized by indirect references
   • backhanded - roundabout or ambiguous
   • circuitous, roundabout - marked by obliqueness or indirection in speech or conduct
   • ambagious, circumlocutious, circumlocutory, periphrastic - roundabout and unnecessarily wordy
   • devious, oblique - indirect in departing from the accepted or proper way; misleading
   • digressive, discursive, excursive, rambling - (of e.g. speech and writing) tending to depart from the main point or cover a wide range of subjects
   • hearsay - heard through another rather than directly
   • mealy-mouthed, mealymouthed - hesitant to state facts or opinions simply and directly as from e.g. timidity or hypocrisy
   • tortuous - not straightforward
5. Not as a direct effect or consequence (synset 301860441)
   "indirect benefits"; "an indirect advantage"
   similar to: secondary - being of second rank or importance or value; not direct or immediate

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