addictedadj.n.
/əˈdɪktᵻd/, U.S. /əˈdɪktᵻd/ A. adj. Usually with to† 3. With infinitive. Committed or bound to a course of action; (also in weaker sense) inclined or given to. Obsolete.
1. † b. Esp. in the subscription of letters: devoted, committed (chiefly attributive). Obsolete.† c. Attached or bound to a place. Obsolete. rare.† d. With modifying adverb: committed (in a specified manner or to a specified thing); (also occasionally) bound or orientated (in a specified direction). Obsolete.
a. Devoted or attached to a person, party, or cause; spec. †bound as, or as if, a servant (obsolete). (In later use merging with sense A. 2.)
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > duty or obligation > moral or legal constraint > [adjective] > bound or under obligation
indebted?c1225
boundena1400
owingc1400
debtfulc1425
belast1441
beholdena1450
worthy1469
obligate?a1475
subjectc1480
bound1488
debt-bounda1522
obstrict1527
addicted1535
oughting1567
devinct1573
bounded1586
obliged1596
affineda1616
boundant1654
guilty1700
obligated1740
behoven1880
duty-bound1908
due1913
1535 W. Marshall tr. Marsilius of Padua Def. of Peace Pref. f. 4v Whan do we not lyue so addicted [L. addicti], vtterly gyuen, or bonde vnto them [sc. riches], that we ar founde..to be bonde seruauntes vnto them, rather than the lordes or maysters of theym?
1542 T. Elyot Bibliotheca Solidurij, were menne of warre in Fraunce..which being ones retayned with any people or capitayne, were so addicted vnto them, that in theyr quarels they wolde dye.
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. xij Some princes are addicted to others for stipendes.
1588 in Harl. Misc. (Malham) II. 62 To destroy the queen, & all her people addicted to her.
1589 R. Greene Menaphon sig. E3v We be virgins, & addicted to virginitie.
1642 D. Rogers Naaman 308 He was so addicted to Marius his Master.
1661 Grand Deb. Rev. & Alteration Bk. Common Prayer 97 If the Magistrate would be advised by us (supposing himself addicted against you).
1679 M. Prance Addit. Narr. 12 He himself was addicted to a Trade.
1685 King James II. in London Gaz. mmxxxi/4 You are still..addicted to the Royal Interest.
1709 J. Strype Ann. Reformation xxv. 246 Bishop Cheney, who was..most addicted to Luther.
1711 Ld. Shaftesbury Characteristicks I. iii. 349 The very Persons of such Relators or Tale-tellers..become sacred and tremendous in the Eyes of Mortals, who are thus addicted from their Youth.
1819 ‘R. Rabelais’ Abeillard & Heloisa xi. 344 Complete fox-hunters, And much addicted to the bunters.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > love > [adjective] > devoted
addicted1560
devotious1583
devote1597
devoted1600
devotional1677
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. cccviij Neither hath there chaunced as yet any suche controuersie in the Counsell, that I neded any suche addicted and vowed men [L. deuotis & addictis].
1594 T. Bowes in tr. P. de la Primaudaye French Acad. II. Ep. Ded. sig. a4v, Subscr. Your Honors most addicted, T. B.
1597 T. Morley Plaine & Easie Introd. Musicke Ded. sig. A2 And so I rest, In all loue and affection to you most addicted, Thomas Morley.
1607 in J. R. N. Macphail Highland Papers (1920) III. 104 Ȝour majesteis..maist addictit orator and seruand.
1645 J. Milton Tetrachordon To Parl. sig. A3v With the same affections therfore, and the same addicted fidelity.
1652 J. Gaule Πυς-μαντια 22 The superstitious, and addicted profession [i.e. of magic].
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1578 J. Lyly Euphues f. 38 The one was so addicted to the court, the other so wedded to the vniuersitie.
1600 R. Surflet tr. C. Estienne & J. Liébault Maison Rustique i. xxi. 120 This birde is addicted to hot countries.
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1580 T. Lupton Siuqila 75 The people are so peeuishly addicted, that they esteeme Wealth aboue Wisdome.
1607 tr. L. Ducci Ars Aulica xxiii. 188 This is when you know you are to deale with a Prince vertuously addicted.
1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 76 They were more addicted homewards.
1641 J. Milton Reason Church-govt. Concl. 62 A sort of formal outside men prelatically addicted.
1678 A. Wood Life & Times (1892) II. 424 All such..that are supposed to be popishly addicted.
1841 J. W. Orderson Creoleana xv. 167 Our hymeneally addicted isle.
2.
a. Dedicated or devoted to something, as an activity, sphere of interest, esp. compulsively or to an immoderate degree (frequently influenced by or merging with sense A. 2b in later use). Also in weaker sense: fond of, having a liking for.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > customary or habitual mode of behaviour > [adjective] > that does something habitually > given or addicted to something
given1487
addict1530
addicted1546
apt?1550
prostitute1591
hooked (on)1925
1546 T. Langley tr. P. Vergil Abridgem. Notable Worke (STC 24656) vii. iv. sig. s.iiii They were no priestes nor consecrated persons, but wer men of the laye sort geuen & addicted to praiers, & had the name of Iesuites bycause the name of Iesus should be often in their mouth.
1587 in T. Norton tr. J. Calvin Inst. Christian Relig. (new ed.) ii. v. f. 95v (margin) His iudgment and affection be so addicted vnto euill.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Twelfth Night (1623) ii. v. 196 Being addicted to a melancholly, as shee is. View more context for this quotation
1656 T. Stanley Hist. Philos. II. iv. 35 He was much addicted to civill affairs.
a1701 H. Maundrell Journey Aleppo to Jerusalem (1703) 11 Much addicted to Merchandise.
1745 J. Mason Self-knowl. i. vii. 55 Self-acquaintance shews a Man the particular Sins he is most..addicted to.
1771 ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra (1772) II. l. 191 His Majesty is much addicted to useful reading.
1837 W. Irving Adventures Capt. Bonneville III. 201 All ardently addicted to gambling and horse-racing.
1850 A. Jameson Legends Monastic Orders 418 Being himself addicted to his art.
1865 D. Livingstone & C. Livingstone Narr. Exped. Zambesi xxi. 423 The blacks are more addicted to stealing where slavery exists.
1917 Philos. Rev. 26 320 The writers of the shortest articles are so much addicted to discussions and re-discussions.
1952 B. Miller Robert Browning (1953) ii. 81 A practised, an addicted letter-writer, Elizabeth Barrett was able continuously to extend, in the variety of her correspondence, the range of her own experience.
1963 E. Taylor Fall of Dynasties iv. 57 Even as a grown women she remained incorrigibly addicted to the vapidly respectable novels of Marie Corelli.
1990 Raritan Spring 92 Addicted to Love: love junkies and sexual anorexics, the focus of this edition of ‘Geraldo’.
1998 Earth Matters Autumn 11/2 Speed kills—so why are we addicted to fast cars?
b. Habitually or immoderately devoted to the consumption of a substance; spec. affected with an addiction to (the use of) a drug (cf. addiction n. 1b).
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > use of drugs and poison > drug addiction or craving > [adjective]
addicted1612
narcomaniacal1889
on the stuff1929
junkie1930
on the needle1955
yenny1975
junked out1982
1612 T. Taylor Αρχὴν Ἁπάντων: Comm. Epist. Paul to Titus 140 To be addicted to the wine or strong drinke, taketh away the heart.
1741 P. Gordon Geogr. Anatomiz'd (ed. 17) ii. 267 They are..much addicted to Tobacco, Opium, and Coffee.
1774 J. C. Lettsom Med. Mem. Gen. Dispensary London Index Catamenia, long continued in women addicted to opium.
1837 Chinese Repository Apr. 567 The use of opium is so much dangerous, because a person who is once addicted to it can never leave it off.
1888 Lancet 4 Aug. 212/2 For the treatment of those habitually addicted to opium or alcohol, he considers cocaine to be the ‘most fascinating and seductive, dangerous and destructive drug extant’.
1913 Jrnl. Amer. Med. Assoc. 8 Feb. 431/2 The narcotic drugs do afford pleasurable sensations to many of those not yet fully addicted to their use.
1962 J. H. Burn Drugs, Med. & Man x. 110 Those who are addicted to cocaine often take it in the form of powder like snuff.
1989 Professional Counselor Mar.–Apr. 44/1 The other option open to addicted pregnant women is methadone.
2007 N.Y. Mag. 8 Oct. 40/1 Khalil..reckons he first became addicted to heroin ‘at around 12’.
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1568 U. Fulwell Like wil to Like sig. C.i.v He is wholy addicted to followe me.
1642 J. Milton Apol. Smectymnuus 7 A strong presumption that his modesty set there to sale in the frontispice, is not much addicted to blush.
1686 R. Blome Gentlemans Recreation ii. x. 34/1 Goshawks by nature are addicted to Poult; that is, to kill Poultrey.
1706 T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. 2 Apr. (1885) I. 215 He is..much addicted to maintain Correspondence.
1708 E. Arwaker Sel. Fables ii. lvii. 174 The Wretch, too much addicted to complain, And fretting at his Poverty and Pain.
1791 W. Cowper Poems (1818) III. 187 A poet 's Cat..Was much addicted to inquire For nooks to which she might retire.
1792 D. Humphreys Let. 23 Dec. in T. Jefferson Papers (1990) XXIV. 777 The Citizens are very much addicted to meet at Coffee Houses and Lemonade Shops.
1872 E. Lear More Nonsense There was a young lady of Firle, Whose hair was addicted to curl.
B. n.
With the and plural agreement: addicted people as a class.In early use with complement introduced by to.
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1760 ‘Cato’ Tendencies Foundling Hosp. iii. 24 The Addicted to it [sc. youthful carnality] growing Yearly more and more so, keener and keener.
1788 W. Black Compar. View Mortality Human Species 204 This thunderbolt of death..is principally hostile to..the full feeders, or the addicted to frequent intoxication.
1837 Universalist & Ladies Repository June 17/1 The addicted will hear much from her gentle voice which they would not permit their own sex to speak to them.
1844 W. H. Mill Serm. Tempt. Christ iii. 79 Neither the addicted to such vices, nor the approvers of them, have any part in the kingdom of Christ or of God.
1922 Amer. Med. Sept. 517/1 It is also important to determine the size of the true or proper census of the addicted for which provision must be made in penal institutions.
1968 Times 14 June 2 Picking winners on a racecourse is strictly for the addicted.
1987 J. Franklin Molecules of Mind (1988) ii. 35 The insane, the addicted, and the criminal are victims as well as victimizers.
2001 Univ. Pennsylvania Law Rev. 150 432 (note) Those who are disadvantaged by these traits—the less intelligent, the elderly, and the addicted—continue to believe that such traits serve legitimate social functions.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, November 2010; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adj.n.1535