因果上的彎路
把彎掉的線放在因果上：原因確實造成了結果，但中間還隔著別的環節，不是一手促成的。
as an indirect result · r · C1
In a way that is not the first, straight result: something else sits in the middle between the cause and what happens.
間接地
核心畫面
A useful picture: instead of a straight line from A to B, the path bends and passes through something else on the way. 'Direct' means going straight at the target; 'in-' takes the straightness away. Whatever travels — an effect, a , or a meaning — arrives, but not by the straight line, and something sits in between.
從 A 到 B 本來可以是一條直線，但這條線彎了，中間還經過了別的東西才到。direct 是「直直對著目標去」，加上…更多收起
從 A 到 B 本來可以是一條直線，但這條線彎了，中間還經過了別的東西才到。direct 是「直直對著目標去」，加上否定的 in- 就是把那個「直」拿掉——東西還是會到，只是路上多了一段轉折、多了一個中介。走這條彎路的可以是影響（中間隔著別的原因）、可以是人（中間繞了別的地方）、也可以是話裡的意思（中間隔著一層沒說破的暗示）。From the word’s history
From Latin 'directus' (straight, laid straight, from dirigere 'to set straight, guide') with negative 'in-' and adverbial '-ly': literally 'not in a straight line'. Every modern use is that bent line applied to a different kind of path.
拉丁文 directus 就是「被拉直的」（來自 dirigere，把東西擺正、導直），加上否定的 in- 和副詞的 -ly，字面就是「不走直線地」。現代三個用法只是把這條彎掉的線放到三種不同的路徑上：因果的路、走動的路、說話的路。
Etymonline / Oxford English Dictionary entries for 'direct' (< Latin directus, dirigere) and the prefix 'in-'
Three branches
走動上的彎路
最字面的一種彎線：要去的地方沒變，但走的路不是最短的那一條。
by a roundabout route · r · C1
By a path that is not the shortest or straightest way to a place.
迂迴地
說話上的彎路
彎掉的線走進語言裡：意思有送到，但它繞過了直說的那條路，最後一段要聽的人自己走完。
without saying clearly · r · C1
In a way that does not say or show something clearly, so the real meaning is left for you to guess.
拐彎抹角
原始詞典資料1 筆記錄
以下是外部詞典記錄的用法，原文照列，我們還沒有寫成教學內容。上面的說明才是我們自己寫的；有些用法可能上面已經講過了。
indirectlyadv/ˌɪn.dɪˈɹɛk(t).li/
- 1
In an indirect manner.
- His alcoholism had a direct effect on his health, and indirectly caused problems for others.
- At laſt a new Ceſſation of Hoſtilities upon theſe Points was reſolved on; yet the Hatred continues, and the War goes on, though more covertly, and more indirectly than before.
資料來源：英文維基詞典 English Wiktionary（CC BY-SA 4.0）。 原文照列，未經改寫。