Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - address

 I. verb  Etymology: Middle English adressen, from Anglo-French adrescer, from a- (from Latin ad-) + drescer to to direct, put right — more at dress  Date: 14th century  transitive verb  1. archaic  a. direct, aim  b. to direct to go ; send  2.  a. to direct the efforts or attention of (oneself) will ~ himself to the problem  b. to deal with ; treat intrigued by the chance to ~ important issues — I. L. Horowitz  3. archaic to make ready; especially dress  4.  a. to communicate directly ~es his thanks to his host  b. to speak or write directly to; especially to deliver a formal speech to  5.  a. to mark directions for delivery on ~ a letter  b. to consign to the care of another (as an agent or factor)  6. to greet by a prescribed form  7. to adjust the club preparatory to hitting (a golf ball)  8. to identify (as a computer peripheral or memory location) by an ~ or a name for information transfer  intransitive verb obsolete to direct one's speech or attentions  • ~er noun  II. noun  Date: 1539  1. dutiful and courteous attention especially in courtship — usually used in plural  2.  a. readiness and capability for dealing (as with a person or problem) skillfully and smoothly ; adroitness  b. obsolete a making ready; also a state of preparedness  3.  a. manner of bearing oneself a man of rude ~  b. manner of speaking or singing ; delivery  4. a formal communication; especially a prepared speech delivered to a special audience or on a special occasion  5.  a. a place where a person or organization may be communicated with  b. directions for delivery on the outside of an object (as a letter or package)  c. the designation of place of delivery placed between the heading and salutation on a business letter  d. the designation of a computer account from which one can send or receive e-mail  6. a preparatory position of the player and club in golf  7.  a. a location (as in the memory of a computer) where particular information is stored  b. a series of usually alphanumeric characters that specifies the storage location (as on a network or in a computer's memory) of particular information an Internet ~  Synonyms: see tact