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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.