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