dirigere

Dirigere is the Latin infinitive of the verb dirigo, meaning to direct, guide, or aim. In classical Latin it occurs in both literal senses—such as directing the course of a vessel or the actions of an army—and figurative ones, including directing conduct, guiding a plan, or directing attention. The form is the etymological source of many modern Romance-language verbs and of English terms related to leading or directing.

In Latin usage, dirigo is a third‑conjugation verb, with forms such as dirigo, dirigis, dirigit, dirigimus, dirigitis, dirigunt and the infinitive dirigere. Common expressions include directing the course of a ship (dirigere cursum navis), directing an army (dirigere exercitum), or directing one’s thoughts or actions (dirigere animos, dirigere consilium). The sense extends from physical guidance to the management of processes, plans, or audiences.

Romance languages descend from dirigere and preserve closely related meanings. Italian uses dirigere to mean to direct, manage, or oversee; Spanish and Portuguese use dirigir with similar senses. The noun forms in these languages often derive from the same root, such as la dirección in Spanish or la direzione in Italian, referring to direction or management. In English, the verb appears mainly in scholarly or historical contexts as a Latin or philological term; its derivatives, such as direction, director, and directive, ultimately trace back to the same Latin root.

Overall, dirigere and its descendants share a core sense: to move, govern, or point toward a goal or endpoint, whether in navigation, administration, or communication.