addict
addict Lexical Profile
addict Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A person who is physiologically or psychologically dependent on a habit-forming substance, such as alcohol, nicotine, or an illicit drug.
"The community clinic offers counseling and medical support to help recovering addicts rebuild their lives."
An enthusiastic devotee of a particular hobby, activity, or interest.
"As a self-proclaimed crossword addict, she completes three different puzzles over breakfast every morning."
• verb
To cause someone to become physiologically or psychologically dependent on a substance or practice.
"High concentrations of nicotine are engineered to addict consumers rapidly."
To devote or surrender oneself habitually to a pursuit, habit, or interest (used reflexively,now archaic or literary).
"During his retirement in the countryside, the scholar chose to addict himself to the study of classical botany."
Word Nuance & Usage
The word is a heteronym: as a noun (/ˈædɪkt/), the stress falls on the first syllable, whereas as a verb (/əˈdɪkt/), the stress shifts to the second syllable. In modern clinical and public-health contexts, person-first language (such as 'person with a substance use disorder') is often preferred over the noun 'addict' to reduce stigma.
• Rhymes for addict
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'addictus', the past participle of 'addicere' ('to assign, surrender, or devote'), from 'ad-' ('to') and 'dicere' ('to say or declare'). In Roman law, an 'addictus' was a debtor formally handed over by a magistrate as a bond-slave to their creditor.