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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Addres(s v. Also: adres(s, adrese (aders); addresse. P.t. and p.p. a(d)dressit, -yt, adresit, a(d)drest, adresst. [ME. adresse (c 1325), OF. adresser; later addresse, with assimilation of the prefix a- to ad-.]

1. refl. To prepare (oneself), make (oneself) ready or in good order. Const. agane (againis), to with inf., etc. 1375 Barb. vi. 173.
How he sa hardely Addresst hym agane thame all Ib. xiii. 620.
The laiff … adressit thame intill ane rout 1447 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 197.
We adres vs … to visy the said partis a1500 Bk. Chess 1506.
He … addrest him planelye to be deid c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxi. 31.
Addres the sone, fulfill thy will and band 15.. Clar. ii. 1068.
I sall againis the Grein Knicht me adres a1568 Scott i. 179.
Ȝung gentilmen for dansing thame addres 1589 Montgomery Mem. 229.
Chargeing all … that they … addres thame to meit … the Lord Hammiltoun

2. tr. To put in order, arrange, prepare, make ready. 1375 Barb. xiv. 263.
His men adressit he thame agane c1515 Asl. MS. I. 175/6.
Hie honour is … the werray myrrour quharin he suld addres all his werkis 1513 Doug. iii. ii. 134.
Our schippis … ful weil we gart adres c1552 Lynd. Mon. 6089.
Latt us with Paull our mynde addres 1573 Sempill Sat. P. xxxix. 3.
Addres ȝour armour, bound ȝow for debait

b. To put on (clothing). 1513 Doug. xi. x. 2.
Turnus … Ful bissely addressyt on his weid

c. With out. To draw up (battalions). c1615 Chron. Kings 113.
Heaffand fund ane … part meitt for battall, thay adres out twa battellis

3. To dress, attire, array. c1420 Wynt. vi. 118.
Thaire ryng, thaire sceptyre, and thare crownys … ar devotly blest, Or thai in to thaim be addrest 1513 Doug. iv. iv. 40.
Hys wavand haris … [he] gan … enoynt, And into gold addres c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1071.
He and his men did them addres, Richt hastelie, in thair Harnes a1578 Pitsc. II. 58/29.
To address thame selffis in maist weirlyk array 1603 7th Rep. Hist. MSS. 722/2.
To … addresse ȝour selff in ȝour cumliest manner

4. To blazon, describe. c1450-2 Howlat 421.
It war tyrefull to tell, dyte or address, All thar deir armis

5. refl. To direct or betake (oneself), esp. to a place or person. c1450-2 Howlat 684.
Kyngis and patriarkis … Addressit thaim to that deis a1500 Henr. Fab. 747.
Unto ane derne for dreid he him addrest 1513 Doug. iii. iii. 18.
Vnder thi gward to schip we ws addres c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3560.
Hercules Out throuch the warld did him addres 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 8; etc.
The scholaris that cumis of new sal addresse thayme to the principal 1607 Reg. Morton I. 192.
We … desyre you … with all convenient speid to address your self hither

b. tr. To direct (a thing) towards some point or in a certain way. 1513 Doug. iii. viii. 52.
Our fallowis … towart the cost thar stevynnys dyd addres Ib. xii. viii. 109.
That ane [spear] … Towart Ene addressit leit he glyde c1552 Lynd. Mon. 122.
The restles besynes, Quhareon the maist part dois thair mynd addres

c. To direct, bend (one's course or way). 1513 Doug. i. viii. 130.
So fremmytly the son list nocht addres Hys curs Ib. iii. vi. 40.
Throu deip seys thi wayage is addrest c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2358.
Sum to Iuno … Thair pilgramage thay wald addres 1611-57 Mure I. 65/119.
Show to quhat soyle owr course sall be addrest

6. intr. To proceed, go; to set about, prepare (for, or to do, something). c1450-2 Howlat 280.
To writ … To the athile Empriour … , To adress to that dyet a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 735.
We sall addres to that dome but distans 1513 Doug. iii. iv. 76.
Addres ȝe thus to mak bargane onone? Ib. vi. iv. 2.
Sibillais commandment Ené addressis perform incontinent 15.. Clar. v. 2007.
Syne to the scharpe assay … Addressit Lordis