guide´less

guide «gyd», verb, guid|ed, guid|ing, noun.

–v.t.

1. to show the way; lead; direct; conduct: »

The Indian scout guided the explorers through the mountain pass. The President skillfully guided the country through a difficult period.

2. to direct the movement or course of: »

to guide a ship through a storm.

3. to direct in any course of action: »

Good advice guided him in the choice of a career.

4. to manage; control; regulate. SYNONYM(S): govern.

–v.i.

to act as one who guides.

–n.

1. a person or thing that shows the way, leads, conducts, or directs: »

Tourists and hunters sometimes hire guides. The amount of money you have is a guide to how much you can spend. Your feelings are often poor guides for actions and beliefs.

SYNONYM(S): leader, conductor, director, pilot.

2. a part of a machine or device for directing or regulating motion or action.

3. = guidebook. (Cf. ↑guidebook)

4. = guidepost. (Cf. ↑guidepost)

5. something which marks a position or serves to guide the eye.

6. a soldier posted at the right or left front of a column when marching, with whom all other members of a unit align.

7. Guide, a member of the Girl Guides between the ages of eleven and fourteen.

╂[< Middle French guiden, alteration of Old French guier, ultimately < Germanic (compare Gothic witan observe, watch)]

–guide´less, adjective.

Synonym Study transitive verb. 1 Guide, lead, conduct mean to show the way. Guide implies being familiar with the way and all the points of interest or danger along it, and means to go along to point these out: »

The Indian guided the hunters on their expedition into the wildness.

Lead means to go ahead to show the way: »

The dog led his master to the injured man.

Conduct means to go with as guide and assistant: »

He conducted a party of tourists to Europe.