addictio

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [adˈdɪk.ti.oː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [adˈdik.t͡si.o]^[1]

Forms

addictiō f (genitive addictiōnis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from addīcō “to adjudge, award” with the suffix -tiō, from ad- and dīcō “to say”.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Cicero, of adjudging property.^[2] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant the adjudging or assignment of disputed property by a praetor or judge, as in Cicero, and in Gaius the assigning of a debtor to the custody of his creditor.^[2][5] The land surveyors used it for fixing a judge or a price.^[6]

British Medieval Latin used it for a sentence.^[7] English addiction (about 1600, “tendency, inclination”; 1640s, the state of being given up to a habit) is from Latin addīcere “to give over”.^[3]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.^[2][4]
• 140–180 AD – Gaius uses it of debtors.^[2][4]
• c. 1600 – English addiction is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. (law) The adjudging, assignment (of property).^[2]
2. The assigning of a debtor to his creditor.^[2]

Related words

• addīcō
• dīcō
• English addiction

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press