Adjacent Words

Addressing definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

ADDRESS'ING, ppr. Speaking or applying to, directing; courting; consigning.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Address Ad*dress", 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. [`a] (L. ad) + OF. drecier, F. dresser, to straighten, arrange. See Dress, v.] 1. To aim; to direct. [Obs.] --Chaucer. And this good knight his way with me addrest. --Spenser. 2. 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. 3. 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. 4. To clothe or array; to dress. [Archaic] Tecla . . . addressed herself in man's apparel. --Jewel. 5. 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. 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. Are not your orders to address the senate? --Addison. The representatives of the nation addressed the king. --Swift. 7. To direct in writing, as a letter; to superscribe, or to direct and transmit; as, he addressed a letter. 8. To make suit to as a lover; to court; to woo. 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. 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.