addiction

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

noun being abnormally tolerant to and dependent on something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming (especially alcohol or narcotic drugs)
noun an abnormally strong craving
noun (Roman law) a formal award by a magistrate of a thing or person to another person (as the award of a debtor to his creditor); a surrender to a master

From addict + -ion; compare (Latin) addictio (“an adjudging, an award”).

To his gluttony I owe my vegetable diet, and to his inebriety my addiction to water. — Paul Clifford — Complete, Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron Lytton
The man’s purplish red face, his heavy eyelids, the nervous twitchings, all spoke of his addiction to drink. — The Mystery of the Yellow Room, Gaston Leroux
What if he had introduced to the natives of Sargol a dangerous drug--started that cub on some path of addiction. — Plague Ship, Andre Norton

dependence, dependance, dependency, habituation

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