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. à (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 ]

v. i. 1. To prepare one's self. [ Obs. ] “Let us address to tend on Hector's heels.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To direct speech. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Young Turnus to the beauteous maid addrest. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The intransitive uses come from the dropping out of the reflexive pronoun. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. adresse. See Address, v. t. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Act of preparing one's self. [ Obs. ] Jer Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Act of addressing one's self to a person; verbal application. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Direction or superscription of a letter, or the name, title, and place of residence of the person addressed. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Manner of speaking to another; delivery; as, a man of pleasing or insinuating address. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Attention in the way one's addresses to a lady. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. Skill; skillful management; dexterity; adroitness. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Speech; discourse; harangue; oration; petition; lecture; readiness; ingenuity; tact; adroitness. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. marked with a destination; -- of mail [ Narrower terms: self-addressed ] unaddressed [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. One to whom anything is addressed. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of addressing or directing one's course. [ Rare & Obs. ] Chapman. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. a printer that automatically prints addresses on letters for mailing.
Syn. -- addressing machine [ WordNet 1.5 ]