Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Address?

\Ad*dress"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Addressed}; 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. 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. (Com.) To consign or intrust to the care of another, as agent or factor; as, the ship was addressed to a merchant in Baltimore. {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.
\Ad*dress"\, v. i. 1. To prepare one's self. [Obs.] ``Let us address to tend on Hector's heels.'' --Shak. 2. To direct speech. [Obs.] Young Turnus to the beauteous maid addrest. --Dryden. Note: The intransitive uses come from the dropping out of the reflexive pronoun.
\Ad*dress\, n. [Cf. F. adresse. See {Address}, v. t.] 1. Act of preparing one's self. [Obs.] --Jer Taylor. 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. --Addison. 7. Skill; skillful management; dexterity; adroitness. Syn: Speech; discourse; harangue; oration; petition; lecture; readiness; ingenuity; tact; adroitness.
\Ad*dress"\, v. t. {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. Adenoid \Ad"e*noid\, n. (Med.) A swelling produced by overgrowth of the adenoid tissue in the roof of the pharynx; -- usually in pl.