ADDICT


Meaning of ADDICT in English

I. əˈdikt, (ˈ)a|d- verb

( -ed/-ing/-s )

Etymology: Latin addictus, past participle of addicere to favor, adjudge, from ad- + dicere to say — more at diction

transitive verb

1. obsolete

a. : to award or deliver by judicial decree — used in works on Roman law

b. : to give over : give up : surrender

c. : to attach (oneself) as a follower to a person or adherent to a cause

we sincerely addict ourselves to Almighty God — Thomas Fuller

2. : to apply or devote (as oneself or one's mind) habitually : give (oneself) up or surrender (oneself) as a constant practice : habituate , devote

the researches to which your taste addicts you — Sir Walter Scott

such persons … will addict themselves to history or science — J.S.Mill

to forswear thin potations and to addict themselves to sack — Shakespeare

3. : to cause or induce (a person) to make habitual use of a drug

addicts … find it convenient to addict several other persons — D.W.Maurer & V.H.Vogel

intransitive verb

of a drug : to bring about or cause habitual use

drugs … threaten us because they are … addicting — D.W.Maurer & V.H.Vogel

II. ˈa(ˌ)dikt, ˈadēkt also əˈdikt or aˈd- noun

( -s )

1. : one who is addicted to a habit ; specifically : one who habitually uses and has an uncontrollable craving for an addicting drug

a morphine addict

a barbiturate addict

2. : one showing zealous interest (as in a sport or pastime) : an enthusiastic devotee

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.