Addict
/ˈæd.ɪkt/noun
A person who is dependent on a substance or behavior.
Did you know?The Latin root 'addictus' meant 'to surrender' or 'to bind,' tying the concept of addiction to a loss of freedom and willpower.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
addictus
“Bound or given over, often in the context of servitude.”
Old French
Old French
adicte
“To give oneself over to a particular habit or vice.”
Middle English
Middle English
addicte
“To be devoted or dedicated to something, often with a negative connotation.”
Modern English
English
addict
“A person who is overly dependent on a substance or activity, reflecting a dark history of enslavement and surrender.”
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