Primarily, to make direct or straight; straighten, or straighten up; hence, to bring into line or order, as troops (see dress); make right in general; arrange, redress, as wrongs, etc.N. E. D. To direct in a course or to an end; impart a direction to, as toward an object or a destination; aim, as a missile; apply directly, as action.To direct the energy or force of; subject to the effort of doing; apply to the accomplishment of: used reflexively, with to: as, he addressed himself to the work in hand.To direct to the ear or attention, as speech or writing; utter directly or by direct transmission, as to a person or persons: as, to address a warning to a friend, or a petition to the legislature.To direct speech or writing to; aim at the hearing or attention of; speak or write to: as, to address an assembly; he addressed his constituents by letter.To apply in speech; subject to hearing or notice: used reflexively, with to: as, he addressed himself to the chairman.To direct for transmission; put a direction or superscription on: as, to address a letter or parcel to a person at his residence; to address newspapers or circulars.To direct attentions to in courtship; pay court to as a lover.To prepare; make ready: often with to or for.Hence To clothe or array; dress; adorn; trim.In 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 direct speech; speak.To make an address or appeal.To make preparations; get ready.n. Power of properly directing or guiding one's own action or conduct; skilful management; dexterity; adroitness: as, he managed the affair with address.n. Direction or guidance of speech; the act or manner of speaking to persons; personal bearing in intercourse; accost: as, Sir is a title of address; he is a man of good address. Hence The attention paid by a lover to his mistress; courtship; plural (more commonly), the acts of courtship; the attentions of a lover: as, to pay one's addresses to a lady.n. An utterance of thought addressed by speech to an audience, or transmitted in writing to a person or body of persons; usually, an expression of views or sentiments on some matter of direct concern or interest to the person or persons addressed; a speech or discourse suited to an occasion or to circumstances: as, to deliver an address on the events of the day; an address of congratulation; the address of Parliament in reply to the queen's speech.n. A formal request addressed to the executive by one or both branches of a legislative body, requesting it to do a particular thing.n. A direction for guidance, as to a person's abode; hence, the place at which a person resides, or the name and place of destination, with any other details, necessary for the direction of a letter or package: as, what is your present address? the address or superscription on a letter.n. In equity pleading, the technical description in a bill of the court whose remedial power is sought.n. In com., the act of despatching or consigning, as a ship, to an agent at the port of destination.n. Formerly used in the sense of preparation, or the state of preparing or being prepared, and in various applications arising therefrom, as an appliance, array or dress, etc.
