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ad·dict

(ə-dĭkt)

tr.v. ad·dict·ed, ad·dict·ing, ad·dicts

1. To cause to have a medically or psychologically significant addiction: The thief was addicted to cocaine. My uncle is addicted to gambling.

a. To occupy (oneself) with or involve (oneself) in something habitually: That show was so good that I became addicted to watching it.

b. To cause to use something on a regular or dependent basis: economies that are addicted to fossil fuels.

n. (ădĭkt)

1. A person who has an addiction, as to narcotics or gambling.

2. A devoted adherent; a fan: a soap-opera addict.

[Latin addīcere, addict-, to sentence : ad-, ad- + dīcere, to adjudge; see deik- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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