Address
Address (ad*dres") , transitive verb
[Old English adressen to raise erect, adorn, Old French adrecier, to straighten, address, French adresser, from à (Latin ad) + Old French drecier, French dresser, to straighten, arrange. See Dress, v.]
1.
To aim; to direct. [Obsolete] — Chaucer
And this good knight his way with me addrest.
2.
To prepare or make ready. [Obsolete]
His foe was soon addressed.
Turnus addressed his men to single fight.
The five foolish virgins addressed themselves at the noise of the bridegroom's coming.
3.
Reflexively: To prepare one's self; to apply one's skill or energies (to some object); to betake.
These men addressed themselves to the task.
4.
To clothe or array; to dress. [Archaic]
Tecla... addressed herself in man's apparel.
5.
To direct, as words (to any one or any thing); to make, as a speech, petition, etc. (to any one, an audience).
The young hero had addressed his players to him for his assistance.
6.
To direct speech to; to make a communication to, whether spoken or written; to apply to by words, as by a speech, petition, etc., to speak to; to accost.
Are not your orders to address the senate?
The representatives of the nation addressed the king.
7.
To direct in writing, as a letter; to superscribe, or to direct and transmit; as, he addressed a letter.
8.
To make suit to as a lover; to court; to woo.
9.
(Commerce) To consign or intrust to the care of another, as agent or factor; as, the ship was addressed to a merchant in Baltimore.
Collocations (2)
To address one's self to , (a) To prepare one's self for; to apply one's self to. (b) To direct one's speech or discourse to.
To address the ball (Golf) , to take aim at the ball, adjusting the grip on the club, the attitude of the body, etc., to a convenient position.
Address (ad*dres") , intransitive verb
1.
To prepare one's self. [Obsolete]
Let us address to tend on Hector's heels.
2.
To direct speech. [Obsolete]
Young Turnus to the beauteous maid addrest.
The intransitive uses come from the dropping out of the reflexive pronoun.
Address , noun
[Compare French adresse. See Address, transitive verb]
1.
Act of preparing one's self. [Obsolete] — Jer Taylor
2.
Act of addressing one's self to a person; verbal application.
3.
A formal communication, either written or spoken; a discourse; a speech; a formal application to any one; a petition; a formal statement on some subject or special occasion; as, an address of thanks, an address to the voters.
4.
Direction or superscription of a letter, or the name, title, and place of residence of the person addressed.
5.
Manner of speaking to another; delivery; as, a man of pleasing or insinuating address.
6.
Attention in the way one's addresses to a lady. — Addison
7.
Skill; skillful management; dexterity; adroitness.