Addict

v. t. [imp. & p. p. ADDICTED; p. pr. & vb. n. ADDICTING.] [L. Lat. addictare, from addictus, p. p. of addictere, to adjudge, devote; from ad and dicere, to say.]

1Sense 1. To apply habitually; to devote; to accustom; to habituate. “Addicted to commerce.” “They addict themselves to the civil law.” Evelyn.

He is addicted to his study. Beau. & Fl.

That part of mankind that addict their minds to speculation. Adventurer.

2Sense 2. To adapt; to make suitable; to fit. [Obs.]

The land about is exceedingly addicted to wood, but the coldness of the place hinders the growth. Evelyn.

Synonyms— ADDICT, DEVOTE, CONSECRATE, DEDICATE. Addict was formerly used in a good or in an indifferent sense; as, “addicted to letters,” but is now employed only in a bad one; as, “addicted to vice.” Devote is always taken in a good sense, expressing an habitual earnestness in the pursuit of some favorite object; as, “devoted to science.” Consecrate and dedicate express devotion of a higher kind, involving religious sentiment; as, “consecrated to the service of the church;” “dedicated to God.”