The word addiction is derived from the _________ verb addicere, which refers to the process of binding to things.

The word addiction is derived from the _________ verb addicere, which refers to the process of binding to things.

• A. Greek
• B. Roman
• C. Latin
• D. Egyptian

Answer: (C)

Addiction traces back to Latin. The verb addicere in Latin means to bind or fasten toward something, and that sense of binding is what the word addiction originally conveys—being bound to a habit or substance. English inherited the noun through Latin (and later via French), so the precise linguistic origin is Latin, not Greek or Egyptian. The idea tied to Roman culture might be tempting, but the language itself is Latin, the tongue of the Romans.

Addiction traces back to Latin. The verb addicere in Latin means to bind or fasten toward something, and that sense of binding is what the word addiction originally conveys—being bound to a habit or substance. English inherited the noun through Latin (and later via French), so the precise linguistic origin is Latin, not Greek or Egyptian. The idea tied to Roman culture might be tempting, but the language itself is Latin, the tongue of the Romans.