addict
UK: əˈdɪkt | US: əˈdɪkt
n. a person who is addicted to a substance or activity
vt. to cause someone to become dependent on a substance or habit
The word "addict" originates from Latin addictus, the past participle of addicere ("to assign, surrender, or devote"). In Roman law, an addictus was someone legally bound or enslaved, often due to debt. Over time, the term evolved to describe a person devoted to a habit or substance, reflecting the idea of being "bound" to it. The root dict ("to declare") hints at the formal or compulsive nature of this attachment.
He became an addict after years of substance abuse.
Social media can addict users to constant validation.
The rehab center helps addicts recover from their dependencies.
She didn’t realize how easily gambling could addict her.
The documentary explores what drives people to addict themselves to harmful behaviors.