▪ I. † addict, ppl. a. Obs.
(əˈdɪkt)
[ad. L. addīct-us assigned by decree, made over, bound, devoted; pa. pple. of addīcĕre, f. ad to + dīcĕre to say, pronounce. Now replaced by addicted.]
1. Formally made over or bound (to another); attached by restraint or obligation; obliged, bound, devoted, consecrated.
| 1529 J. Frith Antithesis 318 Be not partially addict to the one nor to the other. 1533 ― Agst. Rastell. (1829) 217 As the Spirit of God is bound to no place, even so is he not addict to any age or person. 1549 L. Coxe Erasm. Paraphr. Titus i. 1, I Paule my selfe y⊇ addict seruaunt & obeyer, not of Moses lawe as I was once, but of God y⊇ father. c 1577 J. Northbrooke Against Dicing (1843) 6, I perceive myself something addict & tyed with the bonds of singular & great friendship. 1583 Fulke Defence xiii. 448 Delivering is a kind of ‘dissolving,’ or ‘breaking from him’ to whom he was before addict or bound. |
2. Attached by one's own inclination, self-addicted to (a practice); devoted, given, inclined to.
| 1535 J. ap Rice in Four Cent. of Eng. Lett. (1881) 33 He seemeth to be addict to the mayntenyng of suche supersticious ceremones. 1551 R. Robinson More's Utopia (1869) 165, I beyng then of purpose more earnestly addict to heare. 1561 J. Daus tr. Bullinger On Apocal. (1573) 141 Geuen to voluptuousnes, full of surfetting, addicte to filthy lust. 1598 Marston Met. Pigmalions Image i. 141 Robrus..adic't to nimble fence. 1640 Homilies ii. v. (1859) 301 Neither would we at this day be so addict to superstition, were it not that we so much esteemed the filling of our bellies. 1790 Cowper Iliad v. 1084 A foolish daughter petulant, addict To evil only. |
▪ II. addict, v.
(əˈdɪkt)
[f. addict a.; or on analogy of vbs. so formed.]
1. To deliver over formally by sentence of a judge (to anyone). Hence fig. to make over, give up, surrender. Obs. except as a techn. term in Rom. Law.
| 1586 J. Hooker Giraldus's Hist. Irel. in Holinshed II. 61/2 With what limitation a prince may or may not addict his realme feodarie to another. 1592 tr. Junius On Apocal. vi. 7 That God will addict the fourth part of this world..unto death and hell. 1670 G. H. tr. Hist. Cardinals ii. ii. 163 The greatest part of the day he addicts either to Study, Devotion, or other Spiritual exercises. 1774 S. Hallifax Anal. Rom. Civ. Law (ed. 4) 58 The Effects of the deceased were by the Praetor addicted, or made over, to one or more of the manumitted Slaves. 1880 [See under addicent]. |
† 2. refl. To bind, attach, or devote oneself as a servant, disciple, or adherent (to any person or cause). Obs.
| 1560 J. Daus Sleidane's Comm. 138 a, He addicted him selfe to neyther of them: but now he semed to incline to the Emperour. 1621 1st & 2nd Bk. of Discipline 86 True bishops should addict themselves to a particular flocke. 1623 Bingham Xenophon 39 He addicted himselfe a scholar to Gorgias the Leontine. 1653 in Baxter Chr. Concord A 3 We do Agree and Resolve, not to addict or engage ourselves to any Party. 1655 Fuller Ch. Hist. iii. 208 We sincerely addict ourselves to Almighty God. 1684 Scanderbeg Rediv. v. 97 He would be too much addicted to the House of Austria. |
† 3. To attach (anyone) to a pursuit. Obs.
| 1660 T. Stanley Hist. Philos. (1701) 22 He addicted the Citizens to Arts. |
4. To devote, give up, or apply habitually to a practice. a. trans. with refl. meaning. (A person addicts his mind, etc., or his tastes addict him.)
| 1607 Topsell Four-footed Beasts (1673) 247 It cannot be..that ever he can addict his mind to grave, serious and profitable business. c 1630 Jackson Creed iv. vi. Wks. III. 68 To addict our best abilities to the service. 1662 Fuller Worthies (1840) III. 195 His genius addicted him to the study of antiquity. 1667 Oldenburg in Phil. Trans. II. 413 If these men would addict their palats to the pure fountains, and not wander after every poluted stream. 1829 Scott Antiq. xvi. 107 The researches to which your taste addicts you. |
b. refl. and pass. (A person addicts himself, or is addicted.)
| 1577 Hanmer Anc. Eccles. Hist. (1619) 226 Addicting myself with you vnto the same busines. 1597 Shakes. 2 Hen. IV, iv. iii. 135 To forsweare thinne Potations, and to addict themselues to Sack. 1611 Bible 1 Cor. xvi. 15 They haue addicted themselues to the ministery of the Saints [only occurrence; Wyclif, Rhem. ordained, Tindale, Cranmer appointed, Geneva given]. 1665–9 Boyle Occas. Refl. (1675) Pref. 34 Addicting themselves..to write Occasional Reflections. 1704 T. Hearne Duct. Hist. (ed. 3) I. 414 He addicted himself to the Discipline of Pythagoras. 1782 Priestley Nat. & Rev. Relig. I. 33 Persons who addict themselves to vice..become miserable. 1846 Mill Logic iii. xiii. §6 (1868) 339 Such persons..will addict themselves to history or science rather than to creative art. |
Hence aˈddicting ppl. a. = addictive a.
| 1939 [see addictive a.]. 1965 Listener 23 Sept. 465/1 Lysergic acid..is not addicting. 1970 Nature 22 Aug. 773/2 The use of methadone, a synthetic drug that is addicting..is on the increase in New York. 1984 A. Hailey Strong Medicine iv. xvi. 397 It was not addicting. Incredibly, adverse reports about its effect were almost nil. |
▪ III. addict, n.
(ˈædɪkt)
[f. addict v.]
One who is addicted to the habitual and excessive use of a drug; chiefly with qualifying n., as drug addict, morphia addict. Also transf.
| 1909 O. Jennings Morphia Habit vi. 78 As shown by post-mortem examinations in morphia addicts. 1920 Glasgow Herald 18 Oct. 9 The Chicago Bridewell Institute for drug addicts. 1920 Outward Bound Oct. 38/2 The morphia addict is a doomed man. 1924 Westm. Gaz. 19 Dec., People who..get into the habit of going to the chemist for drugs to induce sleep, and often end up by becoming opium, morphine, or heroin addicts. 1925 Ibid. 27 Jan., Even many working men are night club addicts. |