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Addict vs Fiend - What's the difference?

addict | fiend |

In obsolete terms the difference between addict and fiend

is that addict is to adapt; to make suitable; to fit while fiend is an enemy, unfriend, or foe.

As nouns the difference between addict and fiend

is that addict is a person who is addicted, especially to a harmful drug while fiend is an enemy, unfriend, or foe.

As a verb addict

is to cause someone to become addicted, especially to a harmful drug.

addict

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A person who is addicted, especially to a harmful drug
  • * He is an addict when it comes to chocolate cookies.
  • An adherent or fan (of something)

    • Derived terms

    * cyberaddict * drug addict * sex addict

    Synonyms

    * (person who is addicted) junkie (one addicted to a drug), slave * (adherent or fan) adherent, aficionado, devotee, enthusiast, fan, habitue * See also

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To cause someone to become addicted, especially to a harmful drug
  • To involve oneself in something habitually, to the exclusion of almost anything else.
  • * (rfdate), (John Evelyn)
    • They addict themselves to the civil law.
  • * (rfdate) (Francis Beaumont) &
    • He is addicted to his study.
  • * (rfdate) (Adventurer)
    • That part of mankind that addict their minds to speculations.
  • * (rfdate) (Thomas Fuller)
    • His genius addicted him to the study of antiquity.
  • * (rfdate), (Thomas Babington Macaulay)
    • A man gross ... and addicted to low company.
  • (obsolete) To adapt; to make suitable; to fit.
  • * (rfdate) (John Evelyn)
  • * The land about is exceedingly addicted to wood, but the coldness of the place hinders the growth.

    • Synonyms

    * get (someone) hooked * (devote) consecrate, dedicate, devote * (adapt) adapt, fit

    Derived terms

    * addicting * addictive

    Anagrams

    * English heteronyms

    fiend

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (l)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) An enemy, unfriend, or foe.
  • (religious, archaic) The enemy of mankind, specifically, the Devil; Satan.
  • * 1971 , , Religion and the Decline of Magic , Folio Society 2012, p. 35:
    • At the confirmation ceremony the bishop would lay his hands on the child and tie around its forehead a linen band […]. This was believed to strengthen him against the assaults of the fiend […].
  • A devil or demon; a malignant or diabolical being; an evil spirit.
  • * 1845 , E.A. Poe, "The Raven"
    • "Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend! "
  • A very evil person
  • (informal) An addict or fanatic
    • a jazz fiend

    Derived terms

    * fienddom/fiendom * fiendful * fiendhood * fiendish * fiendkin * fiendlike * fiendling * fiendly * fiendness * fiendship * dope fiend

    Synonyms

    * monster

    Anagrams

    * * *