| addict | 1. To apply habitually; to devote; to habituate; with to. "They addict themselves to the civil law." "He is addicted to his study." (Beau. & Fl) "That part of mankind that addict their minds to speculations." (Adventurer) "His genius addicted him to the study of antiquity." (Fuller) "A man gross . . . And addicted to low company." (Macaulay) 2. To adapt; to make suitable; to fit. "The land about is exceedingly addicted to wood, but the coldness of the place hinders the growth." (Evelyn) Synonym: Addict, Devote, Consecrate, Dedicate. Addict was formerly used in a good sense, as, addicted to letters, but is now mostly employed in a bad sense or an indifferent one, as, addicted to vice, addicted to sensual indulgence. "Addicted to staying at home." . Devote is always taken in a good sense, expressing 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. Origin: L. Addictus, p. P. Of addicere to adjudge, devote; ad + dicere to say. See Diction. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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