Middle English Dictionary Entry
adressen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | adressen v. Ppl. adressed, adrest. |
| Etymology | OF adrecier |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To guide or direct (sb.), control (sth.), direct (toward an end or goal, in a certain direction or manner); (b) to set (sth.) in order, arrange, array; also, to repair or correct (sth.); (c) refl. to arrange or place oneself, prepare oneself; to aim (at a goal or a purpose), set out (for a place); (d) to address (a letter).
Associated quotations
a
- a1325 *Rwl.Statutes [OD col.] (Rwl B.520)lf.31 : None oþer names. bote of þulke Mainpernours, Iururs, oþer oþere, after þat te tenour of oure writes þer of þe schirreue adresses.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)5.9 : Lade me, Lord, in þy ryȝtfulnes..adresce [L dirige] my way in þy siȝt.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.2153 : A king, after the reule, is holde To modifie and to adresce Hise yiftes upon such largesce, That he mesure noght excede.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.3608 : Betwen..Pite And..crualte..Ther mote a king his herte adresce.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.3801 : He which sit above the Mone..His goode king so wel adresceth, That alle his fomen he represseth.
- (a1460) DSPhilos.(Helm)17/15 : And adresse alle youre desires to God.
- (a1460) DSPhilos.(Helm)131/8 : Ire, couetyse, and other affectes of the soulle haue a certeigne quantite by the whiche the estate of man is gouerned and adressed.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)118.133 : My gangyngis adress eftire thi worde.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)100/33 : Þys conseill adressys þy vpberers, and ordeynes þy kyngdom.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.1722 : As he hire couthe best adresce -- In ragges, as sche was, totore -- He set hire on his hors tofore.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.2725 : I ne have for love be The betre adresced and arraied.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.4882 : Hou hir yelwe her was tresced And hire atir so wel adresced.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)20786 : Þar cites neve þai adreste, Castells and haldes þai made neve, Adrest qwar þai defautes kneve.
- 1448 *Glo.Chron.C (Arms 58:Kooper)f.106r : By Scottes Xristendom furste theder ibrought but yut in many obseruaunces waueryng fforst by Angilbert and Wilfride and after by erchebishop Theodor into lawfull state he [i.e. King Oswy] let adresse.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)103/38 : Þat he be entendant to enquere tidynges of all þinges þat mowe comforte subgitz, & to adresse þaire werkys, & do hem solas in aduersyte.
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)91 : He graunted the kynge that he sholde into Irland wende, forto adresse and sprede the termys of holy church.
c
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.5021 : This lord of Rome it [the cord] nam, And therupon him hath adresced.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.4988 : He, which al him hadde adresced To lust, tok thanne what him liste.
- (1436-7) Proc.Privy C.5.418 : Ye woll adresse you & goo personelly to everyche of the townes.
- (a1460) DSPhilos.(Helm)113/27 : Adresse youreself and correcte youreself, and thann do your peyne to amende and correcte othir.
- a1500 Add.Hymnal (Add 34193)488/8 : The gladsom Byrd..byddyth vs Adressone us and hye Toward þe lyff..þat schall not dye.
- a1525(1470) Rebell.Lin.(ArmsV 435)9 : The king..drew hym to felde and addressed hym towardes Stanford.
d
- (c1437) *Proc.Chanc.PRO ser.C 1 file 9no.269 : To graunte seueral writtes adressed to the seid John Tanner..to appiere before you.
- (1453) Proc.Privy C.6.162 : Notwithstanding oure lettres late addressed unto you, bering date at Westm. the xxvij day of Juyll..ye ne have in any wyse obeyed.
- a1500 Let.Curteys in RS 96.3 (Add 7096)270 : Oure oþer lettres and credences undre oure prive seel, herebefore to you adressed, delivered.