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ad·dress (ə-drĕs)
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tr.v. ad·dressed, ad·dress·ing, ad·dress·es
1. To speak to: addressed me in low tones.
2. To make a formal speech to: addressed the union members at the convention.
3. To call (a person to whom one is speaking) by a particular name or term: Address the judge as "Your Honor."
4. To direct (a spoken or written message) to the attention of: address a protest to the faculty senate.
5. To mark with a destination: address a letter.
6.
a. To direct the efforts or attention of (oneself): address oneself to a task.
b. To begin to deal with: addressed the issue of taxes.
7. To dispatch or consign (a ship, for example) to an agent or factor.
8. Sports To adjust and aim the club at (a golf ball) in preparing for a stroke.
n. (ə-drĕs, ădrĕs)
1.
a. A description of the location of a person or organization, as written or printed on mail as directions for delivery: wrote the address on the envelope.
b. The location at which a particular organization or person may be found or reached: went to her address but no one was home.
2.
a. A name or a sequence of characters that designates an email account or a specific site on the internet or other network.
b. A name or number used in information storage or retrieval assigned to or identifying a specific memory location.
3. A formal speech or written communication.
4. (ə-drĕs) Archaic
a. often addresses Courteous attentions.
b. The manner or bearing of a person, especially in conversation.
c. Skill, deftness, or grace in dealing with people or situations: "With the charms of beauty she combined the address of an accomplished intriguer" (Charles Merivale).

[Middle English adressen, to direct, from Old French adresser, from Vulgar Latin *addīrēctiāre : Latin ad-, ad- + Vulgar Latin *dīrēctiāre, to straighten (from Latin dīrēctus, past participle of dīrigere, to direct; see DIRECT).]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

    Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

    Indo-European Roots

    Semitic Roots

    The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.