address

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[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

Old English adressen (to raise erect, adorn), Old French adrecier (to straighten, address), French adresser, from à (Latin ad) + Old French drecier, French dresser (to straighten, arrange); see dress. Originally from the Latin ad (to) and directus (straight or right) signifying "right to the point."

[edit] Pronunciation

[edit] Noun

Singular
address

Plural
addresses

address (plural addresses)

  1. Direction or superscription of a letter, or the name, title, and place of residence of the person addressed.
  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. Manner of speaking to another; delivery; as, a man of pleasing or insinuating address.
  5. Attention in the way one's addresses to a lady. Joseph Addison.
  6. Skill; skillful management; dexterity; adroitness.
  7. (obsolete) Act of preparing one's self.
  8. street location.
  9. (computing) A location in computer memory.
  10. (Internet) An Internet address; URL.

[edit] Synonyms

[edit] Translations

[edit] Verb

Infinitive
to address

Third person singular
addresses

Simple past
addressed or (obsolete) addrest

Past participle
[[addressed or (obsolete) addrest]]

Present participle
addressing

to address (third-person singular simple present addresses, present participle addressing, simple past and past participle addressed or (obsolete) addrest)

  1. (intransitive, obsolete) To prepare one's self.
    Let us address to tend on Hector's heels. - Shakespeare
  2. (intransitive, obsolete) To direct speech.
    Young Turnus to the beauteous maid address. - John Dryden
  3. (transitive, obsolete) To aim; to direct.
    And this good knight his way with me addrest. - Edmund Spenser
  4. (transitive, obsolete) To prepare or make ready.
    His foe was soon addressed. - Edmund Spenser
    Turnus addressed his men to single fight. - John Dryden
    The five foolish virgins addressed themselves at the noise of the bridegroom's coming. - Jeremy Taylor
  5. (transitive, reflexive) To prepare one's self; to apply one's skill or energies (to some object); to betake.
    These men addressed themselves to the task. - Thomas Babington Macaulay
  6. (transitive, archaic) To clothe or array; to dress.
    Tecla ... addressed herself in man's apparel. - Jewel
  7. (transitive) 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. - John Dryden
  8. (transitive) 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? - Joseph Addison
    The representatives of the nation addressed the king. - Jonathan Swift
  9. (transitive) To direct in writing, as a letter; to superscribe, or to direct and transmit.
    He addressed a letter.
  10. (transitive) To make suit to as a lover; to court; to woo.
  11. (transitive) To consign or intrust to the care of another, as agent or factor.
    The ship was addressed to a merchant in Baltimore.
  12. (transitive) To address one's self to; to prepare one's self for; to apply one's self to; to direct one's speech or discourse to.
  13. (transitive, formal) To handle, discuss about a problem especially to solve it.
    This meeting hopes to address how to improve sales overseas.

[edit] Translations

[edit] Usage notes

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

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