English

Etymology

Latin addictus, p. p. of addicere to adjudge , devote; ad + dicere to say. See Diction.

Noun

1. One who is addicted

Transitive Verb

• imp. & p. p.: Addicted
• p. pr. & vb. n.: Addicting

1. To apply habitually; to devote; to habituate

   Quotations

   • They addict themselves to the civil law. Evelyn .
   • He is addicted to his study. Beaumont & Fletcher
   • That part of mankind that addict their minds to speculations. Adventurer.
   • His genius addicted him to the study of antiquity. Fuller.
   • A man gross ... and addicted to low company. Macaulay.

2. (Obsolete) To adapt; to make suitable; to fit.

   • The land about is exceedingly addicted to wood, but the coldness of the place hinders the growth. Evelyn .

Synonyms

• Devote
• Consecrate
• Dedicate

"Addict was formerly used in a good sense; as, addicted to letters; but is now mostly employed in a bad sense or an indifferent one; as, addicted to vice; addicted to sensual indulgence. Addicted to staying at home." J. S. Mill.

Devote is always taken in a good sense, expressing habitual earnestness in the pursuit of some favorite object; as, devoted to science. Consecrate and dedicate express devotion of a higher kind, involving religious sentiment; as, consecrated to the service of the church; dedicated to God.

Translation

• French: intoxiqué, accro (fam)