Addressing

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. [1913 Webster]

And this good knight his way with me addrest. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]

2. To prepare or make ready. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

His foe was soon addressed. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]

Turnus addressed his men to single fight. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

The five foolish virgins addressed themselves at the noise of the bridegroom's coming. --Jer. Taylor. [1913 Webster]

3. Reflexively: To prepare one's self; to apply one's skill or energies (to some object); to betake. [1913 Webster]

These men addressed themselves to the task. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]

4. To clothe or array; to dress. [Archaic] [1913 Webster]

Tecla . . . addressed herself in man's apparel. --Jewel. [1913 Webster]

5. To direct, as words (to any one or any thing); to make, as a speech, petition, etc. (to any one, an audience). [1913 Webster]

The young hero had addressed his players to him for his assistance. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

Are not your orders to address the senate? --Addison. [1913 Webster]

The representatives of the nation addressed the king. --Swift. [1913 Webster]

7. To direct in writing, as a letter; to superscribe, or to direct and transmit; as, he addressed a letter. [1913 Webster]

8. To make suit to as a lover; to court; to woo. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

{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. [Webster 1913 Suppl. 1913 Webster]