Address \Ad*dress"\ ([a^]d*dr[e^]s"), v. t. [imp. & p. p.
   {Addressed} (-dr[e^]st"); p. pr. & vb. n. {Addressing}.] [OE.
   adressen to raise erect, adorn, OF. adrecier, to straighten,
   address, F. adresser, fr. [`a] (L. ad) + OF. drecier, F.
   dresser, to straighten, arrange. See {Dress}, v.]
   1. To aim; to direct. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
      
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            And this good knight his way with me addrest.
                                                  --Spenser.
      
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   2. To prepare or make ready. [Obs.]
      
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            His foe was soon addressed.           --Spenser.
      
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            Turnus addressed his men to single fight. --Dryden.
      
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            The five foolish virgins addressed themselves at the
            noise of the bridegroom's coming.     --Jer. Taylor.
      
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   3. Reflexively: To prepare one's self; to apply one's skill
      or energies (to some object); to betake.
      
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            These men addressed themselves to the task.
                                                  --Macaulay.
      
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   4. To clothe or array; to dress. [Archaic]
      
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            Tecla . . . addressed herself in man's apparel.
                                                  --Jewel.
      
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   5. To direct, as words (to any one or any thing); to make, as
      a speech, petition, etc. (to any one, an audience).
      
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            The young hero had addressed his players to him for
            his assistance.                       --Dryden.
      
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   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.
      
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            Are not your orders to address the senate?
                                                  --Addison.
      
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            The representatives of the nation addressed the
            king.                                 --Swift.
      
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   7. To direct in writing, as a letter; to superscribe, or to
      direct and transmit; as, he addressed a letter.
      
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   8. To make suit to as a lover; to court; to woo.
      
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   9. (Com.) To consign or intrust to the care of another, as
      agent or factor; as, the ship was addressed to a merchant
      in Baltimore.
      
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   {To address ones 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.
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Address \Ad*dress"\ ([a^]d*dr[e^]s"), v. i.
   1. To prepare one's self. [Obs.] "Let us address to tend on
      Hector's heels." --Shak.
      
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   2. To direct speech. [Obs.]
      
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            Young Turnus to the beauteous maid addrest.
                                                  --Dryden.
      
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   Note: The intransitive uses come from the dropping out of the
         reflexive pronoun.
         
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Address \Ad*dress\, n. [Cf. F. adresse. See {Address}, v. t.]
   
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   1. Act of preparing one's self. [Obs.] --Jer Taylor.
      
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   2. Act of addressing one's self to a person; verbal
      application.
      
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   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.
      
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   4. Direction or superscription of a letter, or the name,
      title, and place of residence of the person addressed.
      
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   5. Manner of speaking to another; delivery; as, a man of
      pleasing or insinuating address.
      
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   6. Attention in the way one's addresses to a lady. --Addison.
      
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   7. Skill; skillful management; dexterity; adroitness.
      
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   Syn: Speech; discourse; harangue; oration; petition; lecture;
        readiness; ingenuity; tact; adroitness.
        
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