[partly a. Fr. adresse, f. adresse-r; partly f. Eng. vb. ADDRESS.]
I. Preparation.
† 1. The action of making ready, the state of being ready, preparation. Obs.
1633. Bp. Hall, Hard Texts, 408. I beheld a present representation of addresse unto a terrible judgement.
1665–9. Boyle, Refl., Ep. Ded. Your Importunity ingaged me (though not to the address) yet to the Publication of these Papers.
1671. Milton, Samson, 731. But now again she makes address to speak.
1673. Lady’s Calling, Pref. 2. The Spartans notwithstanding their ready address to Empire … could have but half a happiness.
1788. Priestley, Lect. Hist., 20. By proper address, they are as capable of entering into any subject of speculation as they ever will be.
† 2. That which is prepared; an appliance. Obs.
1598. Barret, Theor. Warres, V. iii. 132. Bridges, barks and boats, and other Addresses and engines … to be framed to passe riuers.
† 3. Array, attire; dress. Obs.
1592. Wyrley, Armorie, v. 100. Foorth I proceed in order clad, In weldie armes right fair addresse.
1660. Bp. Hall, Rem. Wks., 203. Secondly, here must be a light address; no Man that goes to sojourn in a strange Country will carry his lumber along with him.
4. General preparedness or readiness for an event: skill, dexterity, adroitness.
1598. Sylvester, Du Bartas, I. vi. (1641), 50/1. The quick, proud Courser, which the rest doth passe For apt address.
1622. Bacon, Jul. Cæs., Wks. (Bohn), 499. His ready address to extricate himself both in action and discourse: for no man ever resolved quicker, or spoke clearer.
1644. Evelyn, Mem., I. 94. Being built exceedingly reclining, by a rare address of the architect.
1710. Steele, Tatler, No. 3, § 6. His Royal Highness employs all his Address in alarming the enemy.
1778. Miss Burney, Evelina, I. 169. The prisoner had had the address to escape.
1829. Scott, Antiq., xxx. 208. Miss Griselda … had not address enough to follow the lead.
1850. Merivale, Hist. Rom. Emp., lviii. (1865), VI. 310. With the charms of beauty she combined the address of an accomplished intriguer.
1855. Prescott, Philip II. (1857), I. vi. 93. The French commander had the address to obtain instructions to the same effect from his own court.
II. Direction.
5. The action of directing or dispatching (to a person or place). Still said of ships.
1882. Charter-party. Ship to be addressed to Charterers or their Agents at port of discharge, paying 3% address commission.
† 6. The action of sending a written message, of inscribing or dedicating what has been written. Obs.
1643. Milton, Divorce, Introd. (1847), 123/2. The address of these lines chiefly to the parliament of England might have seemed ingrateful.
1663. Gerbier, Counsel, c 8 a. The Addresse of this little Treatise to your Lordship.
1705. Addison, Italy. [I] can have no other Design in this Address than to declare that I am your lordship’s most obliged ——.
7. The direction or superscription of a letter, etc.; the name of the person and place to which it is addressed or directed; the name of the place to which any one’s letters are directed.
1712. Budgell, Spectator, No. 277, ¶ 6. Having learnt the Milliner’s Addresse, I went directly to her house.
1848. Vest. Creation (ed. 3), 312. The number of letters put in without addresses is year by year the same.
1863. Thackeray, Pendennis, lxxi. 606. His address was to his brother’s house in Suffolk.
Mod. This letter is to your address.
† 8. The act of addressing or betaking oneself to any one; recourse, application, approach for any object. Obs.
1611. Cotgr., Acheminement, an addresse, introduction, entrie, ingression.
1661. Bramhall, Just Vind., iii. 35. To make his first addresse for justice to a secular Magistrate.
1704. Nelson, Fest. & Fasts, x. (1739), 127. Our Addresses to Heaven are represented by Frankincense.
9. esp. Dutiful or courteous approach to any one, courtship to a sovereign (obs.) or a lady. Now always in the plural, as in to pay one’s addresses to a lady.
1539. in Strype, Eccl. Mem., I. 544. The king looked for address: and was well pleased when he had it from such as had a repute for learning.
1665–9. Boyle, Refl., IV. xix. 284. Procuring her to be haunted by some … and to make an address which aims but at the Portion, not the Person.
1749. Richardson, Clarissa, II. iii. 11. She did not dislike his address, only the manner of it.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones (1775), III. 93. To make sham addresses to the older lady.
1854. Thackeray, Newcomes, I. 17. The black footman persecuted her with his addresses.
10. Manner of speaking to another, bearing in conversation; accost.
1674. N. Fairfax, Bulk & Selv., 17. With a goodly income of Learning, and a right handsome address of words, and well air’d periods.
1716–8. Lady M. W. Montagu, Lett., 20, I. 61. A princess of great address and good breeding.
1755. Johnson, in Boswell (1816), I. 240. I was overpowered … by the enchantment of your address.
1807. Crabbe, Flattery, 11. And who that modest nymph of meek address?
1851. Carlyle, J. Sterling, II. ii. (1872), 93. His address, I perceived, was abrupt, unceremonious.
11. A discourse specially directed to any one, a formal speech of congratulation, respect, thanks, petition, etc., esp. the formal reply of the House of Lords or Commons to the Royal Speech at the opening of Parliament; and, in modern usage, a set discourse, a speech addressed to, or appealing to an audience. (Expressing less oratorical style, than a speech; less systematic treatment of a theological subject than a sermon.)
1751. Chambers, Cycl., Address, a discourse presented to the king, in the name of a considerable body of his people.
1759. Robertson, Hist. Scot., I. ii. 154. They joined with this view, in an address to the regent.
1855. Prescott, Philip II. (1857), I. ii. 28. The magistrates of the cities through which he passed welcomed him with complimentary addresses.
1870. Crown, Hist. Eng., 808. Lord Liverpool moved the Address … the debate lasted two nights, the Address being finally carried by a majority of 163.
1872. A. J. Ellis, in Trans. Philol. Soc., 1873, 1. To make our Anniversary conform to those of other learned Societies, by delivering an annual address.
Mod. The proceedings consist of prayer, singing of hymns, short and stirring addresses.
