Ad-drĕss'1, v. t.
[imp. & p. p. ADDRESSED; p. pr. & vb. n. ADDRESSING.] [Fr. adresser, Pr. adresser, It. addirizzare, addirizzare; from ad and Fr. dresser, Pr. dressar, It. dirizzare, drizzare, from Lat. directus, p. p. of dirigere, to direct; It. rizzare, to raise, from Lat. rectus, p. p. of regere, to lead straight.]
Sense 1. To prepare or make ready.
His foe was soon addressed. Spenser.
Turnus addressed his men to single fight. Dryden.
The five foolish virgins addressed themselves at the noise of the bridegroom’s coming. Bp. Taylor.
Sense 2. To direct or aim, either in a literal [Obs.] or a figurative sense. “Address thy gait to her.” Shak.
The young hero had addressed his prayers to him for his assistance. Dryden.
Sense 3. To direct words or discourse to; to apply to by words, as by a speech, address, petition, or the like.
Are not your orders to address the senate? Addison.
The representatives of the nation addressed the king. Swift.
Sense 4. To direct in writing, as a letter; to superscribe, or to direct and transmit; as, he addressed a letter.
Sense 5. To make suit to as a lover; to court; to woo.
Sense 6. (Com.) To consign or intrust to the care of another, as agent or factor: as, the ship was addressed to a merchant in Baltimore.
Sense 7. To clothe or array; to dress. [Obs.]
Tecla . . . addressed herself in man’s apparel. Jewel.
To address one’s self to, to direct one’s speech or discourse to. In old writers, the reflexive pronoun is sometimes omitted; as, “Young Turnus to the beautious maid addressed.” Dryden.