I. rə̇ˈdres, rēˈ- transitive verb
Etymology: Middle English redressen, from Middle French redresser, from Old French redrecier, from re- + drecier to make straight — more at dress
1. obsolete
a. : to make vertical again
redress a leaning wall — Earl of Shaftesbury †1713
b. : to put back into good condition physically or spiritually : repair
rise God … this wicked earth redress — John Milton
2.
a.
(1) : to set (a wrong) right : remedy
looked to charity, not to legislation, to redress social wrongs — W.R.Inge
(2) : to make up for : compensate
what they lacked in apparatus they redressed in understanding — C.F.Mullett
b. : to remove the cause of (a grievance or complaint)
had not the slightest intention of listening to the grievances of the colonies with a desire to redress them — H.E.Scudder
committee has redressed these medievalisms and submitted its draft bill — Harvey Breit
c. : to exact reparation for : avenge
must such wrongs either be ignored or redressed in hot blood — R.H.Jackson
3. archaic
a. : to requite (a person) for a wrong or loss
b. : heal
4.
a. : to eliminate the faults of : impart renewed stability to : rectify
divided about how to redress the economy — New Statesman & Nation
b. : to neutralize the effect of : counteract , offset
another broadcast may redress whatever imbalances the first creates — Gilbert Seldes
c. : to return (an airplane) to normal flying position : flatten out
Synonyms: see correct
II. “, ˈrēˌdres noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English redresse, from Anglo-French redresse, redresce, from Old French redrecier
1.
a. : relief from distress
suicide … is a common method of seeking redress — K.E.Read
b. obsolete : removal of faults : reformation , improvement
too long have we driven off the applying of our redress — Joseph Hall
c. : the means or possibility of seeking a remedy
there is no redress whatever, since the accused may not be tried twice for the same offense — Curtis Bok
2. : compensation for a wrong or loss : reparation
discharged officials could seek … redress by appeal — New Statesman & Nation
3.
a. : an act or instance of redressing
petition the government for a redress of grievances — U.S. Constitution
b. : correction , retribution
the pedestrian can walk dangerously without the slightest fear of redress — British Automobile Racing Club Gazette
III. (ˈ)rē+ transitive verb
Etymology: re- + dress
: to dress again ; especially : to put through a finishing process again
redress leather before dyeing
redress tools that show signs of wear