▪ I. address, v.
(əˈdrɛs)
Also 4–5 adress(e.
[a. (14th c.) Fr. adresse-r, earlier adresce-r, adrece-r, adrecie-r (Pr. adreysar, Sp. aderezar, It. addirizzare):—late pop. L. *addrictiā-re, addirectiā-re; f. ad to + drictiā-re, directiā-re to make straight or right, f. drictum, dirictum, directum, straight, right: see dress and direct. The subseq. refashioning of a- to ad- occasional in the 15th c. Fr., has been permanently adopted in Eng.; see ad-.]
Prim. sign. To straighten:—I. To make anything straight; then, to put things ‘straight’ or right; to put in order; to order, prepare; to array, clothe. II. To make straight the course of anything, to direct, to dispatch; to direct a letter, direct one's speech or oneself to, speak to. III. To direct towards an object, apply to a purpose, to apply oneself.
I. To make (a thing) straight or right.
† 1. trans. To straighten up, to erect; to raise, to set up. refl. To raise oneself, to stand erect, lit. and fig. Obs.
| c 1375 Barbour Bruce vi. 173 How he sa hardyly Addressyt hym againe thaim all. 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 87/2 The first day that he was wasshen and bayned he addressid hym right up in the bassyn. 1620 Shelton Don Quixote I. iii. i. 116 He arose, remaining bended in the midst of the way, like unto a Turkish Bow, without being able to address himself. |
† 2. a. To put (things) ‘straight,’ or ‘to rights,’ to set in order; to order, arrange, draw up in line (a body of troops, etc.) Obs., but cf. dress.
| 1375 Barbour Bruce xiv. 265 His men addressit he thame agane. 1523 Ld. Berners Froissart I. ii. 2 [He] achyued many perilous aventures, and dyuers great batelles addressed. 1598 Sylvester Du Bartas i. iv. (1641) 33/2 The spitefull Scorpion, next the Scale addrest, With two bright Lamps covers his loathsom brest. 1598 R. Barnfeild in Shaks. Cent. Praise 26 The rest Whose stately Numbers are so well addrest. 1601 Holland Pliny I. 445 Put to their shifts, and forced for to addresse themselues, and range a nauall battell in order. |
† b. To right what is wrong; to redress (wrongs), reform (abuses). Obs.
| 1525 Ld. Berners Froissart II. lxxx. [lxxvi.] 238, I say not this to you, bycause ye sholde addresse my wrongs..by hym ye maye be addressed of all your complayntes. 1670 Milton Hist. Eng. iii. Wks. 1851, 95 A Parlament being call'd, to addres many things. |
† 3. a. To order or arrange for any purpose; to prepare, make ready. refl. To prepare oneself. Const. to, unto, for. Obs., but see III.
| 1485 Caxton Paris & Vienne 40 Eche departed fro other for tadresse suche thynges as to them shold be necessarye. 1560 Queen Elizabeth in Ellis Orig. Lett. ii. 158 II. 265 We will that you shall from time to time address several Schedules containing the names of all such hable Scholers. 1596 Chapman Iliad v. 730 And Hebe, she proceeds T' address her chariot. 1633 Hall Hard Texts 315 Those of Media addressed their Target for a present defence. 1655 Lestrange Chas. I, 117 He..did addresse himself for the stroke of death. 1678 Bunyan Pilgr. ii. 201 He addressed himself to go over the River. 1818 Byron Ch. Har. ii. lxix. When he did address Himself to quit at length this mountain-land. |
† b. intr. (refl. pron. suppressed). To prepare. Obs.
| 1513 Douglas æneis vi. iv. 2 Sibillais commandment Enee addressis performe incontinent. 1606 Shakes. Tr. & Cr. iv. iv. 148 Let vs addresse to tend on Hectors heeles. |
† 4. a. esp. To prepare or make ready with the proper attire; to accoutre, array, apparel, or attire, for any special purpose or occasion; in later usage, simply to clothe. (Const. to address a person in; also of clothes addressing a person.) Obs.; cf. dress.
| 1393 Gower Conf. I. 100 As he her couthe best adresse In ragges, as she was to-tore. c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. vi. ii. 38 Thaire ryng, thaire sceptyre, and thare crownys ar devotly blest Or thai in-to thaim be addrest. 1513 Douglas æneis iv. iv. 40 [He] wmquhile thaim gan balmyng and anoint, And into gold addres, at full gude poynt. 1567 Jewel Def. Apology 349 Tecla sometime addressed her selfe in Mans apparell. 1598 Yong Diana 157 Kembe and adresse (louely Shepherdesse) thy silke soft haire. 1615 Bp. Hall Contemp. xxi. 80 That soule which should be addressed, a fit Bride for thine holy and glorious majestie. 1678 Quarles Arg. & Parth. 63 A Pilgrims weed her liveless limbs addrest from head to foot. |
b. To put on (a garment), to don. (Also with on.) Obs. or arch.
| 1513 Douglas æneis xi. x. 2 Turnus hym self, als fers as ony gleid, full bissely addressyt on his weid. 1835 Browning Paracelsus iii. 81, I have addressed a frock of heavy mail. |
II. To direct.
† 5. To make straight the course or aim of (anything); to direct; to aim (a missile). Obs. except as a techn. phrase in Golf, ‘to address the ball.’
| c 1374 Chaucer Boeth. v. (1560) 224 b/1 As men seene the Carter worching in the tourning, and in the attempring or adressing of his carts or chariots. 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 204/3 My crosse shall shewe my hede to therth and addresse my feet to heuen. 1520–41 Sir T. Wyatt Poet. Wks. 197 Sinners I shall into thy ways address. 1598 Sylvester Du Bartas i. v. (1641) 42/2 If without wings we fly..Through hundred sundry wayless ways addrest. 1601 Shakes. Twel. N. i. iv. 15 Therefore, good youth, address thy gait unto her. 1676 Hobbes Iliad 159 Paris..To him an arrow unperceiv'd addrest. 1677 Milton P.L. ix. 496 So spake the enemy of mankind and towards Eve Addressed his way. 1725 Pope Odyss. xiii. 19 Then all their steps addrest To sep'rate mansions. 1867 Cornh. Mag. Apr. 494 The moment [a golfer] begins to ‘address’ his ball, as it is called, he expects that as a matter of course, everybody near him will become dumb and motionless. |
6. a. To direct (any one) to go (to a person or place), to send, dispatch; to refer, introduce. Still said of a ship.
| 1475 Caxton Jason 11, I pray yow if ye knowe any in this contre that hit may plese yow to adresse me to them. 1530 Palsgr. 417/2 I am nowe out of the waye, who shall nowe adresse me? 1570–87 Holinshed Scot. Chron. II. 19 King Edward addressed his orators into Scotland. 1660 Evelyn Mem. (1857) I. 355, I addressed him to Lord Mordaunt. 1715 Burnet Hist. own Times (1823) I. 285 He was addressed first to the Earl of Clarendon. 1882 Charter-party, Ship to be addressed to Charterers or their Agents at port of discharge. |
† b. refl. To direct one's course, to make one's way; to betake oneself. Obs. (See III.)
| 1475 Caxton Jason 30 He addressid him on that parte where he sawe the banyer royall. 1576 Lambarde Peramb. Kent (1826) 137 Into Italie whether warde he addressed himself with all speede. 1647 Fuller Holy War ii. iii. 46 Such pilgrims as were disposed to return addressed themselves for their country. 1683 Brit. Spec. [He] addressed himself to the British King Arviragus. |
7. a. To send as a written message to (some one); to write (anything) expressly that it may reach and be read by some one; to destine, inscribe, dedicate. to address a letter to one: To write and send it; in modern usage also, techn. to write on the outside the name and residence of the person to whom it is addressed, to ‘direct’ it.
| 1636 Healey Epictetus Ep. Ded., [He] ever wisht if these ensuing were published, they might onely bee addressed unto your Lordship. 1651 Hobbes Leviathan ii. xxiii. 126 For the Advice is addressed to the Soveraign only. 1772 Junius Lett. lxviii. 355 This letter is addressed not so much to you, as to the public. 1855 Prescott Philip II (1857) I. ii. 19 Previous to his embarkation Charles addressed a letter to his son. 1880 P.O. Guide 16 Letters for well-known firms and persons in London are sometimes addressed ‘London’ only; but this practice often causes delay. |
b. Computing. To specify a location in (memory) or the location of (data) by means of an address, with a view to transferring data. Cf. access v.
| 1960 Datamation Sept.–Oct. 33/1 Three bits to address characters within the half-word. Ibid. 33/2 Four different character sizes may be directly addressed. 1968 N. Chapin 360 Programming ii. 17 The programer identifies or names (‘addresses’) items of data and parts of the program. 1976 New Scientist 15 Jan. 120 The size of control task is limited only by the amount of memory which can be addressed. 1980 C. S. French Computer Sci. xiii. 72 For direct access one must be able to ‘address’ (locate) each record whenever one wants to process it. 1982 Sci. Amer. Feb. 59/2 The chips are random-access memories, or RAM's, meaning that each memory cell of the chip can be addressed independently. |
8. To direct spoken words to any one; (implying that they are meant expressly for him). a. trans. To address prayers, vows, a speech, words (to a person).
| 1490 Caxton How to Die 17 The oraysons and prayers whiche [thei] adressen vnto our lorde. 1654 Baker Lett. Balzac iii. 134 They have addressed incense to Apes and Crocodiles. 1684 Dryden Thren. August. 2 His usual morning vows had just address'd. 1718 Pope Iliad v. 38 When by the blood-stain'd hand Minerva press'd The God of battles, and this speech address'd. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 623 Her husband received her very coldly, and addressed almost all his discourse to Clarendon. 1858 O. W. Holmes Autocrat xi. 109, I never addressed one word of love to the schoolmistress. |
b. refl. To address oneself in speech (to a person).
| 1665 J. Spencer Prophecies 53 God addrest him to men in more natural and familiar ways. 1751 Fielding Amelia iii. iv. Wks. 1784 VIII. 271 Some on board were addressing themselves to the Supreme Being. 1855 Maurice Proph. & Kings xvii. 293 To all these different tendencies of the people's mind, Isaiah addresses himself. 1858 De Quincey Whiggism Wks. VI. 41 To consider the Doctor as addressing himself exclusively to the lady of the house. Mod. He addressed himself to the reporters. |
† c. intr. (by omission of obj. or refl. pron.) To address to a person. Also techn. to present a formal address, and to ‘pay addresses,’ to court. Obs.
| 1605 Shakes. Lear i. i. 193 My Lord of Burgundie, We first addresse toward you. 1713 Guardian No. 45 (1756) I. 194 A man of greater fortune than she could expect would address to her upon honourable terms. 1715 Burnet Hist. own Times II. 32 Yet they addressed to him against it. 1754 Richardson Grandison IV. xxxix, Miss Clements is addressed to by a Yorkshire gentleman. 1756 Hume Hist. Eng. vii. (1767) 524 The Commons..addressed against the King's guards. 1765 Tucker Lt. of Nat. II. 686 If either he had addressed to the studious, or I been to write for the better sort. |
d. trans. (by omission of to) To speak directly to. Also with inf. phr. To request (the sovereign) in a formal address.
| 1718 Pope Iliad v. 518 And, calling Venus, thus address'd his child. 1782 Priestley Matt. & Spir. I. Pref. 12 In printed publications we, in fact, address all the world. 1827 Hallam Const. Hist. xi. (1876) II. 380 The Commons..instantly addressed the king to disband his army. 1859 De Quincey Cæsars Wks. X. 112 The custom was that the candidate should address every voter by name. 1862 Ld. Brougham Brit. Constit. xv. 238 An obsequious assembly, which addressed him to take the title of King. Mod. Address the chair! |
e. To deliver a prepared speech to a company or meeting (extended to any speech appealing to an audience).
| 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. vi. 208 He now addressed the House of Peers for the first time. 1870 Crown Hist. Eng. 818 Mr. Hunt began to address the assembly amidst a profound silence. Mod. Messrs. Fawcett and Holmes will address their constituents on the work of the session. |
f. U.S. To force (a judge) out (of office) by a petition to the executive. (Cf. address n. 11 b.)
| 1822 Missouri Intell. 2 July 3/2 If any of the judges have corruptly discharged their duties, impeach them. If they are incompetent, address them out. 1874 R. H. Collins Kentucky I. 27 David Ballengall, an assistant judge..[was] ‘addressed’ out of office, because a Scotchman unnaturalized. |
g. To speak or write to (someone) as (the title or name specified).
| 1910 A. Bennett Clayhanger ii. i. 153 The young man's name was Stifford, and he was addressed as ‘Stiff’. 1918 A. G. Gardiner Leaves in Wind 113, I should like to try the experiment on Sir F. E. Smith. I should like to address him as Sir Frederic Thesiger and see how the blood of all the Smiths would take it. 1954 T. S. Eliot Confidential Clerk iii. 120 In order to avoid any danger of confusion You may address me as Aunt Elizabeth. 1954 J. Masters Bhowani Junction xxxix. 337 In this regiment subalterns address field officers as ‘Sir’, not ‘Major’, or ‘Colonel’, or even ‘Chief’. 1976 Debrett's Correct Form (rev. ed.) vi. 353 A Senator's wife is addressed as Mrs. Doolittle. |
III. (Special development of 3 influenced by 6.)
† 9. trans. To apply, direct, or turn (to some object or purpose). Obs.
| 1393 Gower Conf. III. 213 Where stant the verray hardiesse, There mote a king his herte adresse. 1481 Caxton Myrrour i. xiv. 43 The axe doeth nothynge but cutte And he that holdeth it addressith it to what parte he wylle. 1591 Garrard Art of Warre 300 To carry Ladders and such Engines, to addresse and reare them to the breach. |
10. refl. To turn oneself with preparation, to apply oneself, to direct one's skill or energies (to some work or object).
| 1393 Gower Conf. III. 259 And he, which all him hadde adressed To lust, toke thanne what him liste. c 1525 Skelton Agst. Scottes 89 And now to begyn I will me adres, To you rehersyng the somme of my proces. 1598 Parismus i. (1661) 31 Parismus and the rest of the company addressed themselves to that pastime. 1633 Bp. Hall Hard Texts 348 The captive Jewes..shall soon addresse themselves to their returne. 1751 Watts Improv. Mind i. (1801) 3 To address yourself to the work of improving your reasoning powers. 1816 J. Wilson City of Plague i. iv. 30 We may address ourselves to revelry. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. 67 These men addressed themselves to the task of subverting the treasurer's power. |
† 11. intr. (by suppression of refl. pron.) To turn the attention to, set about. Obs.
| 1643 Milton Divorce iv. (1851) 28 Which I shall forthwith addresse to prove. 1725 Pope Odyss. vi. 131 But Pallas now addrest To break the bands of all-composing rest. |
Senses 8 e, f, g in Dict. become 8 f, g, h. Add: [II.] [8.] e. trans. To pay one's addresses to (a woman); to woo, court. Cf. address v. 8 c. arch.
| 1775 Sheridan Rivals iii. v. 57 To prevent the confusion that might arise..from our both addressing the same lady..I shall expect the honour of your company..to settle our pretensions..in King's Mead Fields. 1814 Jane Austen Mansfield Park III. i. 19 You may live eighteen years longer..without being addressed by a man of half Mr. Crawford's estate. 1835 Fraser's Mag. XII. 68/1 It appears that when little more than a girl, she had been addressed by a young gentleman abroad. a 1927 Star of Logy Bay in G. S. Doyle Old Time Songs & Poetry of Newfoundland 68 If you address my daughter, I'll send her far away, And she never will return again, While you're in Logy Bay. |
▪ II. address, n.
(əˈdrɛs)
[partly a. Fr. adresse, f. adresse-r; partly f. Eng. vb. address.]
I. Preparation.
† 1. The action of making ready, the state of being ready, preparation. Obs.
| 1633 Bp. Hall Hard Texts 408, I beheld a present representation of addresse unto a terrible judgement. 1665–9 Boyle Refl. Ep. Ded., Your Importunity ingaged me (though not to the address) yet to the Publication of these Papers. 1671 Milton Samson 731 But now again she makes address to speak. 1673 Lady's Calling Pref. 2 The Spartans notwithstanding their ready address to Empire..could have but half a happiness. 1788 Priestley Lect. Hist. 20 By proper address, they are as capable of entering into any subject of speculation as they ever will be. |
† 2. That which is prepared; an appliance. Obs.
| 1598 Barret Theor. Warres v. iii. 132 Bridges, barks and boats, and other Addresses and engines..to be framed to passe riuers. |
† 3. Array, attire; dress. Obs.
| 1592 W. Wyrley Armorie v. 100 Foorth I proceed in order clad, In weldie armes right fair addresse. 1660 Bp. Hall Rem. Wks. 203 Secondly, here must be a light address; no Man that goes to sojourn in a strange Country will carry his lumber along with him. |
4. General preparedness or readiness for an event: skill, dexterity, adroitness.
| 1598 Sylvester Du Bartas i. vi. (1641) 50/1 The quick, proud Courser, which the rest doth passe For apt address. 1622 Bacon Jul. Cæs. Wks. (Bohn) 499 His ready address to extricate himself both in action and discourse: for no man ever resolved quicker, or spoke clearer. 1644 Evelyn Mem. I. 94 Being built exceedingly reclining, by a rare address of the architect. 1710 Steele Tatler No. 3 ¶6 His Royal Highness employs all his Address in alarming the enemy. 1778 F. Burney Evelina I. 169 The prisoner had had the address to escape. 1829 Scott Antiq. xxx. 208 Miss Griselda..had not address enough to follow the lead. 1850 Merivale Hist. Rom. Emp. lviii. (1865) VI. 310 With the charms of beauty she combined the address of an accomplished intriguer. 1855 Prescott Philip II (1857) I. vi. 93 The French commander had the address to obtain instructions to the same effect from his own court. |
II. Direction.
5. The action of directing or dispatching (to a person or place). Still said of ships.
| 1882 Charter-party, Ship to be addressed to Charterers or their Agents at port of discharge, paying 3% address commission. |
† 6. The action of sending a written message, of inscribing or dedicating what has been written. Obs.
| 1643 Milton Divorce Introd. (1847) 123/2 The address of these lines chiefly to the parliament of England might have seemed ingrateful. 1663 Gerbier Counsel c 8 a, The Addresse of this little Treatise to your Lordship. 1705 Addison Italy [I] can have no other Design in this Address than to declare that I am your lordship's most obliged ―. |
7. a. The direction or superscription of a letter, etc.; the name of the person and place to which it is addressed or directed; the name of the place to which any one's letters are directed.
| 1712 Budgell Spectator No. 277 ¶6 Having learnt the Milliner's Addresse, I went directly to her house. 1848 Vest. Creation (ed. 3) 312 The number of letters put in without addresses is year by year the same. 1863 Thackeray Pendennis lxxi. 606 His address was to his brother's house in Suffolk. Mod. This letter is to your address. |
b. Place of residence, house.
| 1888 Gunter Mr. Potter of Texas xix, He doesn't know where his son is to be found.., otherwise he would drive to his address at once. 1936 G. B. Shaw Millionairess iii. 178 First I must go round to the address Tim has given me and arrange that we send them our stuff direct. 1937 Punch 29 Dec. 718/1 He has returned..to the same old address in South-West London that has sheltered him so often. |
| fig. 1934 G. B. Shaw Too True to be Good ii. 68 What you think is love, and interest, and all that, is not real love at all: three quarters of it is only unsatisfied curiosity. Ive lived at that address myself. |
c. Computing. (See quot. 1956.)
| 1948 Math. Tables & Other Aids Computation III. 69 In the language of some..more recent machine designers, they would be called ‘addresses’. 1951 Wilkes et al. Prep. Programs Electronic Digital Computer i. i. 10 The address specified in this particular order is then increased by one. 1955 Eckert & Jones Faster, Faster 11 In order to tell the machine to place a word in a given storage location..it is necessary to specify the number, or ‘address’, of the location. 1956 Berkeley & Wainwright Computers 334/2 Address, digital computers. A label, name, or number identifying a register, a location, or a device where information is stored. |
d. form of address: the style by which a person is addressed, esp. formally.
| 1875 A. B. Thom Upper Ten Thousand p. x (heading) Forms of epistolary address. 1927 U. M. Lyon Etiquette ii. 18 Form of Address for Boys... How should a small boy be addressed formally? 1957 R. Hoggart Uses of Literacy ii. 34 ‘Our Mam’, ‘our Dad’, ‘our Alice’ are normal forms of address. 1970 Debrett's Correct Form ii. 50 Widow of a younger son of an earl. There is no difference in the form of address in widowhood. 1979 P. Norman Skaters' Waltz 110 Hers is the final authority..wielded in such subtleties as her pre-emptive right to be known by her surname, where Miss Stella employs a familiar, somehow junior form of address. |
† 8. The act of addressing or betaking oneself to any one; recourse, application, approach for any object. Obs.
| 1611 Cotgr., Acheminement, an addresse, introduction, entrie, ingression. 1661 Bramhall Just Vind. iii. 35 To make his first addresse for justice to a secular Magistrate. 1704 Nelson Fest. & Fasts x. (1739) 127 Our Addresses to Heaven are represented by Frankincense. |
9. esp. Dutiful or courteous approach to any one, courtship to a sovereign (obs.) or a lady. Now always in the plural, as in to pay one's addresses to a lady.
| 1539 in Strype Eccl. Mem. I. 544 The king looked for address: and was well pleased when he had it from such as had a repute for learning. 1665–9 Boyle Refl. iv. xix. 284 Procuring her to be haunted by some..and to make an address which aims but at the Portion, not the Person. 1749 Richardson Clarissa II. iii. 11 She did not dislike his address, only the manner of it. 1749 Fielding Tom Jones (1775) III. 93 To make sham addresses to the older lady. 1854 Thackeray Newcomes I. 17 The black footman persecuted her with his addresses. |
10. Manner of speaking to another, bearing in conversation; accost.
| 1674 N. Fairfax Bulk & Selv. 17 With a goodly income of Learning, and a right handsome address of words, and well air'd periods. 1716–8 Lady M. W. Montagu Lett. 20 I. 61 A princess of great address and good breeding. 1755 Johnson in Boswell (1816) I. 240, I was overpowered..by the enchantment of your address. 1807 Crabbe Flattery 11 And who that modest nymph of meek address? 1851 Carlyle J. Sterling ii. ii. (1872) 93 His address, I perceived, was abrupt, unceremonious. |
11. a. A discourse specially directed to any one, a formal speech of congratulation, respect, thanks, petition, etc., esp. the formal reply of the House of Lords or Commons to the Royal Speech at the opening of Parliament; and, in modern usage, a set discourse, a speech addressed to, or appealing to an audience. (Expressing less oratorical style, than a speech; less systematic treatment of a theological subject than a sermon.)
| 1751 Chambers Cycl., Address, a discourse presented to the king, in the name of a considerable body of his people. 1759 Robertson Hist. Scot. I. ii. 154 They joined with this view, in an address to the regent. 1855 Prescott Philip II (1857) I. ii. 28 The magistrates of the cities through which he passed welcomed him with complimentary addresses. 1870 Crown Hist. Eng. 808 Lord Liverpool moved the Address..the debate lasted two nights, the Address being finally carried by a majority of 163. 1872 A. J. Ellis in Trans. Philol. Soc. 1873, 1 To make our Anniversary conform to those of other learned Societies, by delivering an annual address. Mod. The proceedings consist of prayer, singing of hymns, short and stirring addresses. |
b. A formal request, directed to the executive by both branches of the legislature, requesting the removal of a judge from office. U.S.
| 1822 Missouri Intell. 2 July 3/2 If any of the judges..must be removed, even without cause, still let it be done by address. 1882 H. Adams J. Randolph 132 The Constitutions of England, of Massachusetts, of Pennsylvania, authorized the removal of an obnoxious judge on a mere address of the legislature. |
12. attrib. (in sense 7) address-book, address-card.
| 1877 Lady C. Schreiber Jrnl. (1911) II. 42 Several mentioned in the address book ‘n'existent pas’. |
| 1854 Poultry Chron. I. 354/2 So as to have all the purchasers' address-cards quite ready by the close of the show. |