I. əˈdres also aˈd- or ˈaˌd- verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
Etymology: Middle English adressen, from Middle French adrescer, adresser, from a- (from Latin ad- ) + drescer, dresser to straighten, arrange — more at dress
transitive verb
1. obsolete
a. : to make straight : set in order : arrange
whose stately numbers are so well addressed — Richard Barnfield
b. : to make right : correct , redress
a parliament being called to address many things — John Milton
2.
a. : direct , aim : make straight (as a course)
the enemy of mankind … towards Eve addressed his way — John Milton
b. : to direct to go : send , dispatch
he was addressed first to the Earl — Gilbert Burnet
3. archaic
a. : to make ready : prepare
he did address himself to quit … this mountain land — Lord Byron
b.
(1) : to make ready or prepare (as with proper clothing)
(2) : clothe , dress
c. : to put on : don
I have addressed a frock of heavy mail — Robert Browning
4. : to direct the efforts or turn the attention of (oneself)
he addressed himself to the remains of his chicken and salad — C.D.Lewis
the speakers addressed themselves to a common question
: try to apply (oneself or one's powers)
address yourself to the task of behaving better — Aldous Huxley
5.
a. : to direct by way of communication : communicate directly
addressing his thanks to his host
they addressed to the governor a plea for clemency
b. : to direct the words of (oneself)
addressing himself to the principal, he defended the students' behavior
6.
a. : to speak, write, or otherwise communicate directly to
addressing the chairman, he began his speech
she addressed the older woman respectfully
b. : to deliver a prepared or formal speech to
he addresses the convention tonight
7.
a. : to write or otherwise mark directions for delivery on : direct
address a letter for mailing
address a package for delivery by messenger
b. : to consign or entrust to the care of another (as agent or factor)
the ship was addressed to a factor
8. : to greet directly using a prescribed form either in speech or in writing
many people are uncertain about how to address members of the nobility
9. : to direct one's attentions to (as in courtship) : court , woo
she is too fine and too conscious of herself to repulse any man who may address her — J.R.Lowell
10.
a. : to take one's stance and adjust the club preparatory to hitting (a golf ball)
b. : to stand ready to shoot (an arrow) with the body turned at right angles to the target
c. : to bow slightly to (one's square-dancing partner) in preparation for a dance
11. law : to unseat or remove (a judge) as unworthy of office by executive order in accordance with a formal petition from the legislature
12.
a. : to put information into (a memory or storage device)
b. : to call upon (such a device) for information
intransitive verb
1. obsolete : to prepare oneself : set about
let us address to tend on Hector's heels — Shakespeare
2. obsolete : to direct one's speech or attentions
my lord of Burgundy, we first address toward you — Shakespeare
Synonyms: see direct
II. əˈdres, in sense 7 usually & in other senses often ˈaˌd-; also aˈdres, sometimes ( esp in sense 7 ) ˈadrə̇s noun
( -es )
1. obsolete
a.
(1) : the act of preparing or making ready
(2) : the state of being prepared
b. : something that is prepared ; specifically : dress , attire
2. : the quality or state of being ready or skillful : dexterity , adroitness
to bring the thing off as well as Mike has done requires address — Herman Wouk
3. obsolete : the act or action of addressing oneself or one's words to a person
4.
a. : the manner in which one conducts or carries oneself : bearing , deportment
the education and social address of the propertied class — G.B.Shaw
b. : the manner or style of speaking or singing : delivery
a tenor who sang … with a remarkable freedom of voice and ease of address — Douglas Watt
5. : courteous or dutiful attention especially in courtship — usually used in plural
ladies … to whom all the polite part of the court … paid their addresses — Jonathan Swift
6. : a formal communication either spoken or written: as
a. : a usually formal speech or talk especially as prepared for delivery to a special group
his commencement address was subsequently published
b. : a formal petition especially by a legislative body to an executive or sovereign
c. : a formal statement of policy or opinion by a sovereign or president to the people or to a legislative body
an address by the president to Congress
7.
a. : the designation of a place (as a residence or place of business) where a person or organization may be found or communicated with : a part of such a designation
a street address
b. : the directions for delivery given on the outside of an object to be delivered (as a letter or package)
c. : the name of the addressee and designation of place of delivery between the heading and the salutation of a business letter — called also inside address
8. : the act of directing or dispatching a ship
the agent at the port being given a commission of address
9. : direction 11
10. : the stance of the player and the position of the club preparatory to hitting a golf ball
11. : a location (as in the memory of a computer) where particular information is stored ; also : the symbols (as digits or letters) that identify such a location
Synonyms: see tact