pay one's addresses

English

Alternative forms

• make one's addresses

Verb

pay one's addresses (third-person singular simple present pays one's addresses, present participle paying one's addresses, simple past and past participle paid one's addresses)

1. (now archaic) Of a man, to make respectful approaches to a woman with a view to courting her romantically.
   • 1789, John Moore, Zeluco, Valancourt, published 2008, page 73:

     “I would be glad to know, whether this maid was in your service at the time you mention when Signor Zeluco paid his addresses to you?”