dirigent

plural dirigents

1. biochemistrySomething that or someone who directs; a director or guide.

   One of its members is deputed in rotation to maintain continuous contact with the director or dirigents of the hospital by means of biweekly, if necessary daily, visits to the institution.

   1905, George Frederick Shrady, Thomas Lathrop Stedman, Medical Record, volume 68, page 887

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   The monolignol substrates are held in position by proteins called dirigents (guide proteins).[…]Lignan dirigent proteins are found in the cytoplasm, but similar dirigents have been localized in the cell walls of some plants.

   2011, Florence Gleason, Raymond Chollet, Plant Biochemistry, page 133

2. datedgeometryThe line of motion of a describent line or surface that in so moving defines a plane or solid figure; a directrix.

   In this case, to which Sphero-Cartesians, and all other sphero-quadrics, whose dirigents are small circles, are analogous in Spherics, the dirigent conic F must also have double contact with S.

   1891, Proceedings of the London Mathematical Society, volume 21, page 308

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   The straight line in which the vertical polar plane cuts the plane of the circle of contact is called the dirigent. As there are in general two circles of contact, there are two dirigents, and they are parallel to the diretrices.

   1877, James Booth, A Treatise on Some New Geometrical Methods, page 348

1. not comparableThat directs.

   17thC, Richard Baxter, Mr. Baxter's Dying Thoughts, 1838, The Practical Works of Richard Baxter, Volume 3, page 1012, V. I shall better know the methods and perfections of the Scripture, and all God's dirigent word and will.

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   17thC, Richard Baxter, The Life of Faith, 1838, The Practical Works of Richard Baxter, Volume 3, page 690, 6. God must then be known in his three personalities; as the Father, the Word or Son, and the Spirit. 7. And these in their three causalities; efficient, dirigent, and final.