direktem

Direktem is not a standalone word in German; it is the dative singular form of the adjective direkt when used before a noun without a determiner. It represents a grammatical ending that appears in strong declension patterns, not a separate lexeme.

In German, adjectives are declined for case, gender, and definiteness. After a preposition that governs the dative and without a determiner, the strong endings are -em for masculine and neuter singular, yielding direktem; for feminine, -er, yielding direkter. When a determiner is present, endings follow the weak (or mixed)Declension, for example dem direkten Weg or der direkten Frau, where the adjective ending is -en.

Examples help illustrate the distinction. mit direktem Weg means with a direct path (masculine or neuter noun in the dative, no determiner). mit direkter Frau would be a feminine dative with a strong ending. After a definite article: dem direkten Weg (masculine/neuter) and der direkten Frau (feminine) show how the endings shift to -en under the determiner system. Indefinite articles also influence the form, as in ein direkter Weg (nominative) or einen direkten Weg (accusative).

Etymology: direkt comes from Middle High German direkt, ultimately from Latin directus. The form direktem reflects standard German adjective declension rather than a separate lexical item.

See also: German grammar, adjective declension, strong declension, weak declension.