ADDRESS', v.t. [This is supposed to be from L. dirigo.]

1. A speaking to; verbal application; a formal manner of speech; as, when introduced, the President made a short address.
2. A written or formal application; a message of respect, congratulation, thanks, petition, &c.; as, an address of thanks; an officer is removable upon the address of both houses of assembly.
3. Manner of speaking to another; as, a man of pleasing address.
4. Courtship; more generally in the plural, addresses; as, he makes or pays his addresses to a lady.
5. Skill; dexterity; skillful management; as, the envoy conducted the negotiation with address.
6. Direction of a letter, including the name, title, and place of residence of the person for whom it is intended. Hence these particulars are denominated a man's address.

1. To prepare; to make suitable dispositions for. Turnus addressed his men to single fight. – Dryden. The archangel and the evil spirit addressing themselves for the combat. – Addison. [This sense is, I believe, obsolete or little used.]
2. To direct words or discourse; to apply to by words; as, to address a discourse to an assembly; to address the judges.
3. To direct in writing, as a letter; or to direct and transmit; as, he addressed a letter to the Speaker. Sometimes it is used with the reciprocal pronoun; as, he addressed himself to the Speaker, instead of, he addressed his discourse. The phrase is faulty; but less so than the following: To such I would address with this most affectionate petition. Young Turnus to the beauteous maid addrest. – Dryden. The latter is admissible in poetry, as an elliptical phrase.
4. To present an address, as a letter of thanks or congratulation, a petition, or a testimony of respect; as, the legislature addressed the President.
5. To court or make suit as a lover.
6. In commerce, to consign or intrust to the care of another, as agent or factor; as, the ship was addressed to a merchant in Baltimore.

1. To aim; to direct.
   
   
   [Obs.] Chaucer.

   And this good knight his way with me addrest.
   Spenser.

2. To prepare one's self.
   
   
   [Obs.] "Let us address to tend on Hector's heels." Shak.
3. Act of preparing one's self.
   
   
   [Obs.] Jer Taylor.
4. A swelling produced by overgrowth of the adenoid tissue in the roof of the pharynx; -- usually in pl.
5. 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.

6. To direct speech.
   
   
   [Obs.]

   Young Turnus to the beauteous maid addrest.
   Dryden.

   * The intransitive uses come from the dropping out of the reflexive pronoun.

7. Act of addressing one's self to a person; verbal application.
8. 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.

9. 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.
10. To clothe or array; to dress.
    
    
    [Archaic]

    Tecla . . . addressed herself in man's apparel.
    Jewel.

11. Direction or superscription of a letter, or the name, title, and place of residence of the person addressed.
12. 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.

13. Manner of speaking to another; delivery; as, a man of pleasing or insinuating address.
14. 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.

15. Attention in the way one's addresses to a lady.
    
    
    Addison.
16. To direct in writing, as a letter; to superscribe, or to direct and transmit; as, he addressed a letter.
17. Skill; skillful management; dexterity; adroitness.
    
    

    Syn. -- Speech; discourse; harangue; oration; petition; lecture; readiness; ingenuity; tact; adroitness.

18. To make suit to as a lover; to court; to woo.
19. 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.