Etymologically

addictio

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 18:05. This address is a permanent link to this version.

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]

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