\In`di*rect"\, a. [Pref. in- not + direct: cf. F.
indirect.]
1. Not direct; not straight or rectilinear; deviating from a
   direct line or course; circuitous; as, an indirect road.
2. Not tending to an aim, purpose, or result by the plainest
   course, or by obvious means, but obliquely or
   consequentially; by remote means; as, an indirect
   accusation, attack, answer, or proposal.
         By what bypaths and indirect, crooked ways I met
         this crown.                           --Shak.
3. Not straightforward or upright; unfair; dishonest; tending
   to mislead or deceive.
         Indirect dealing will be discovered one time or
         other.                                --Tillotson.
4. Not resulting directly from an act or cause, but more or
   less remotely connected with or growing out of it; as,
   indirect results, damages, or claims.
5. (Logic & Math.) Not reaching the end aimed at by the most
   plain and direct method; as, an indirect proof,
   demonstration, etc.
{Indirect claims}, claims for remote or consequential damage.
   Such claims were presented to and thrown out by the
   commissioners who arbitrated the damage inflicted on the
   United States by the Confederate States cruisers built and
   supplied by Great Britain.
{Indirect demonstration}, a mode of demonstration in which
   proof is given by showing that any other supposition
   involves an absurdity (reductio ad absurdum), or an
   impossibility; thus, one quantity may be proved equal to
   another by showing that it can be neither greater nor
   less.
{Indirect discourse}. (Gram.) See {Direct discourse}, under
   {Direct}.
{Indirect evidence}, evidence or testimony which is
   circumstantial or inferential, but without witness; --
   opposed to {direct evidence}.
{Indirect tax}, a tax, such as customs, excises,