adresser French · revision 16719

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=early 12th century (adrecier)|origins=la dīrigō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /a.dʁɛ.se/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA: /a.dʁe.se/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''adresser'''^(Wiktionary)

+ Old French ''adrecier'', ''adrecer''; written ''adresser'' from the early 15th century.^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|fr|a-|dresser]], first [[m|fro|adrecier]], from the older form of the verb, [[m|fro|drecier]].^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary) That verb continues [[inh|la-vul|*dīrēctiō|alt=*dīrēctiāre]], from [[m|la|dīrēctus|t=straight]], the past participle of [[m|la|dīrigō|t=to direct]].^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Wiktionary)^(FEW|3, 84a)

+

+ Compare [[pcd|adrécher]], [[pro|adreissar]], [[es|aderezar]] and [[it|indirizzare]].^(Littré 1873)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is first found in the early 12th century, as a reflexive, and in 1170 as a transitive verb, with the sense “to raise, set up straight”, Thomas Becket's biographer uses ''adrecier'' for setting right (redressing) one's misdeeds.^(DHLF 1992)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From about 1174 ''s'adrecer'' meant “to go towards”, and ''adrecer'' “to direct”, a sense alive until the 17th century (''adresser ses pas'').^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(GLLF 1989) From the idea of direction came the modern uses: “to address (words) to someone” (14th century) and “to send to someone” (mid-16th century), especially through an intermediary or by post.^(DHLF 1992)^(Petit Robert 2007) ''Adresser à quelqu'un'' “to speak to” (1518) gave way to the reflexive ''s'adresser à'', also said of things, “to be meant for”.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ The derivative [[adresse]] first meant “direct road” (1177–79); its senses “skill” and “address” both developed in the 16th and 17th centuries.^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Early 12th century – Reflexive ''adrecier''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1170 – Transitive, “to raise, set up”.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * c. 1174 – ''S'adrecer'' “to go towards”.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 14th century – “To address (words)”.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * Early 15th century – The spelling ''adresser''.^(Grand Robert 2005)^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1518 – ''Adresser à quelqu'un'' “to speak to”.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * Mid-16th century – “To send”.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|address]], direct (words) to someone: ''adresser la parole à quelqu'un'', ''adresser des reproches''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To send, direct (something) to someone: ''adresser une lettre''; to dedicate (a work).^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # To refer (someone) to the right person: ''le médecin m'a adressé à un spécialiste''.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # ''(classical)'' To aim, direct: ''adresser ses pas''.^(GLLF 1989)

+ # ''S'adresser à'': to speak to, apply to; to be meant for: ''ce livre s'adresse aux enfants''.^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(computing)'' To assign an address to.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[adresse]]

+ * [[adressage]]

+ * [[adressable]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[dresser]]

+ * [[redresser]]

+ * [[droit]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}