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"to conduct (an orchestra)" in seven languages

Meaningto conduct (an orchestra)

Spanish

dirigir

/diɾiˈxiɾ/

learned

French

diriger

/diʁiʒe/

learned

Italian

dirigere

/diˈridʒere/

learned

Portuguese

reger

/heˈʒeh/

other source · Latin REGERE 'to rule, to direct'

Dirigir a orquestra is also heard, but a conductor rege.

Romanian

dirija

/diriˈʒa/

borrowed · French diriger

Catalan

dirigir

/diɾiˈʒi/

learned

English

conduct

/kənˈdʌkt/

other source · Latin CONDŪCTUS 'led together' (CONDŪCERE), via Old French

English → Italianto conduct (an orchestra)dirigereNot relatedDifferent sources — learn this one fresh. But English has relatives: direct, direction, director.What English and Italian share

The Latin ancestor

DĪRIGERE‘to set straight, to direct’

All six sisters descend from it, unless marked otherwise below.

The story

The sisters 'direct' an orchestra; English 'leads it together' (CON- + DŪCERE). French conduire and Italian condurre exist, but they mean 'to lead' or 'to drive'.

English relatives: direct, direction, director

Learn it

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In a sentence

  • es¿Quién dirige la orquesta esta noche?
  • frQui dirige l'orchestre ce soir ?
  • itChi dirige l'orchestra stasera?
  • ptQuem vai reger a orquestra hoje à noite?
  • roCine dirijează orchestra în seara asta?
  • caQui dirigeix l'orquestra aquesta nit?
  • enWho is conducting the orchestra tonight?

The Latin family

DĪRIG-, DĪRĒCT-· set straight, guide

DĪRĒCTUM 'set straight' became the everyday Romance word for 'straight', 'right' and 'law' (spoken *DERECTU → derecho, droit, diritto). The learned doublet directo, direct, diretto kept the sense 'without detour'. French also built a verb on it that English borrowed as dress and address. Romanian drept 'straight; right; law' shows the Eastern -CT- → -pt-.

  • DĪRĒCTUMstraight; right; law

    esderechofrdroititdirittoptdireitorodreptcadret

  • DĪRĒCTUMdirect (learned)

    esdirectofrdirectitdirettoptdiretorodirectcadirecteendirect

  • DĪRĒCTIŌNEMa straightening, guiding

    esdirecciónfrdirectionitdirezioneptdireçãorodirecțiecadireccióendirection

  • DĪRIGEREto set straight, steer

    esdirigirfrdirigeritdirigereptdirigirrodirijacadirigir

  • *DĪRĒCTIĀREto set straight

    esaderezarfrdresseritdrizzareptendereçarcaadreçarendress

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More words from the same Latin

More in Core verbs

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