Addiction
Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 4:28 am
Thinking of the recent demise of Whitney Houston, and Amy Winehouse, Michael Jackson and many other talented people, I was wondering where does the word come from and what exactly does it mean?
And:addiction c.1600, "tendency," of habits, pursuits, etc.; 1640s as "state of being self-addicted," from L. addictionem (nom. addictio) "an awarding, a devoting," noun of action from pp. stem of addicere (see addict). Earliest sense was less severe: "inclination, penchant," but this has become obsolete. In main modern sense it is first attested 1906, in ref. to opium (there is an isolated instance from 1779, with ref. to tobacco).
I like how it makes clear the self-addiction idea. Addicts have sold themselves out, betrayed themselves, sacrificed themselves to something. It may not help in the idea of modern treatment, but it does make clearer the whole concept.addict (v.) 1530s (implied in addicted), from L. addictus, pp. of addicere "to deliver, award, yield; give assent, make over, sell," figuratively "to devote, consecrate; sacrifice, sell out, betray" from ad- "to" (see ad-) + dicere "say, declare" (see diction), but also "adjudge, allot." Earlier in English as an adjective, "delivered, devoted" (1520s).
And here it is for everyone's delectation.This is a good one. I'll do it.