Address — Defs

01 v. t. To aim; to direct.

imp. & p. p. Addressed; p. pr. & vb. n. Addressing

1.
To aim; to direct.[Obs.]
“And this good knight his way with me addrest.” — Spenser.
2.
To prepare or make ready.[Obs.]
“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.” — Jer. Taylor.
3.
Reflexively: To prepare one's self; to apply one's skill or energies (to some object); to betake.
“These men addressed themselves to the task.” — Macaulay.
4.
To clothe or array; to dress.[Archaic]
“Tecla . . . addressed herself in man's apparel.” — Jewel.
5.
To direct, as words (to any one or any thing); to make, as a speech, petition, etc. (to any one, an audience).
“The young hero had addressed his players to him for his assistance.” — Dryden.
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.
“Are not your orders to address the senate?” — Addison.

“The representatives of the nation addressed the king.” — Swift.
7.
To direct in writing, as a letter; to superscribe, or to direct and transmit; as, he addressed a letter.
8.
To make suit to as a lover; to court; to woo.
9.
To consign or intrust to the care of another, as agent or factor; as, the ship was addressed to a merchant in Baltimore.(Com.)

Phrases & compounds

To address one's self to — To prepare one's self for; to apply one's self to.

To address the ball — to take aim at the ball, adjusting the grip on the club, the attitude of the body, etc., to a convenient position.

02 v. i. To prepare one's self.

1.
To prepare one's self.[Obs.]
2.
To direct speech.[Obs.]
“Young Turnus to the beauteous maid addrest.” — Dryden.

03 n. Act of preparing one's self.

1.
Act of preparing one's self.[Obs.]
2.
Act of addressing one's self to a person; verbal application.
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.
4.
Direction or superscription of a letter, or the name, title, and place of residence of the person addressed.
5.
Manner of speaking to another; delivery; as, a man of pleasing or insinuating address.
6.
Attention in the way one's addresses to a lady.
7.
Skill; skillful management; dexterity; adroitness.