Direct verbally from the passage (6)
I believe the answer is:
strait
'passage' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'direct verbally' is the wordplay.
'direct' becomes 'straight' (synonyms).
'verbally' shows a homophone (sound like).
'straight' is a homophone of 'STRAIT'.
'from the' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for strait that I've seen before include "Difficult position" , "Inlet" , "Narrow stretch of water for artist" , "-- -laced (prudish)" , "Connecting passage of water" .)