addiction
UK[əˈdɪkʃn]US[əˈdɪkʃn]
n
The condition of being unable to stop using or doing something as a habit, especially something harmful.
n
A very strong interest in something or a need to do or have something.
Morpheme Breakdown
ad
dict
ion
ad
to, towards, near.
dict
to say, to declare.
ion
Etymology
The word 'addiction' originates from the Latin legal term addictio, which referred to a formal awarding or surrender of a person or property by a court decree. This term was built from the verb addicere, meaning "to say to, to assent, to decree," itself composed of ad- ("to") and dicere ("to say"). In Roman law, an addictus was someone formally bound or devoted, often a debtor assigned to a creditor. This sense of being bound or devoted by a formal declaration evolved in English to signify a state of being enslaved or given over to a habit or pursuit. The modern meaning, focusing on compulsive dependence on a substance or activity, developed from this earlier notion of being bound or surrendered to a powerful habit.
Analysis
Structure: ad + dict + ion
- ad: Latin prefix meaning "to, towards, near."
- dict: Latin root from dicere meaning "to say, to declare."
- ion: Latin suffix forming nouns of action or condition.
Examples
He sought help for his addiction to gambling.
She has a serious coffee addiction and drinks several cups a day.
The documentary explores society's addiction to social media.