address
UK[əˈdres]US[ˈædres]
v
to speak or write to someone
v
to direct a remark or written statement to someone
v
to think about and begin to deal with a problem or issue
n
the details of the place where someone lives or an organization is situated
n
a formal speech delivered to an audience
Morpheme Breakdown
ad
dress
ad
to
dress
to set up, arrange, direct,
Etymology
The word 'address' has a journey of straightening and directing. It entered English from Old French 'adrecier,' meaning "to set straight, direct." This French term was built from the Latin prefix 'ad-' (to, toward) and the root 'directus' (straight). The core Latin verb 'dirigere' (to set straight, guide) is the ultimate source. The literal sense of directing oneself toward someone or something evolved into the modern meanings: to direct speech or writing to a person (verb), the written directions for locating a place (noun), and the formal act of directing a speech to an audience (noun). The conceptual link from physical straightening to verbal and logistical directing remains clear.
Analysis
Structure: ad + dress
ad: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "to" or "toward," indicating direction or addition.
dress: Old French origin, from the verb 'dresser' meaning "to set up, arrange, direct," which itself came from Latin 'directus' meaning "straight, direct."
Examples
Please address your complaints to the manager.
The letter was returned because the address was incorrect.
The president will address the nation tonight.