devote

devote
/di voht"/, v.t., devoted, devoting.
1. to give up or appropriate to or concentrate on a particular pursuit, occupation, purpose, cause, etc.: to devote one's time to reading.
2. to appropriate by or as if by a vow; set apart or dedicate by a solemn or formal act; consecrate: She devoted her life to God.
3. to commit to evil or destruction; doom.
[1580-90; < L devotus vowed (ptp. of devovere), equiv. to de- DE- + votus; see VOTE, VOW]
Syn. 1. assign, apply, consign. 2. DEVOTE, DEDICATE, CONSECRATE share the sense of assigning or applying someone or something to an activity, function, or end. DEVOTE, though it has some overtones of religious dedication, is the most general of the three terms: He devoted his free time to mastering the computer. DEDICATE is more solemn and carries an ethical or moral tone: We are dedicated to the achievement of equality for all. CONSECRATE, even in nonreligious contexts, clearly implies a powerful and sacred dedication: consecrated to the service of humanity.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • devote — 1 Devote, dedicate, consecrate, hallow mean to set apart something or less often someone for a particular use or end. Devote often implies a giving up or setting apart because of motives almost as impelling as those that demand a vow {devotes her …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Devote — De*vote , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Devoted}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Devoting}.] [L. devotus, p. p. of devovere; de + vovere to vow. See {Vow}, and cf. {Devout}, {Devow}.] 1. To appropriate by vow; to set apart or dedicate by a solemn act; to consecrate;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • devote — I verb allot, apply, apportion, appropriate, assign, attend, be absorbed in, be attentive, be engrossed in, concentrate, concern, consecrare, consecrate, contemplate, dedere, dedicate, devovere, direct attention, focus, give attention, heed,… …   Law dictionary

  • devote — [di vōt′] vt. devoted, devoting [< L devotus, pp. of devovere, to dedicate by vow < de , from + vovere, to vow: see VOTE] 1. to set apart for a special use or service; dedicate 2. to give up (oneself or one s time, energy, etc.) to some… …   English World dictionary

  • devote — ► VERB (devote to) ▪ give (time or resources) to. ORIGIN originally in the sense «dedicate formally, consecrate»: from Latin devovere consecrate …   English terms dictionary

  • Devote — De*vote , a. [L. devotus, p. p.] Devoted; addicted; devout. [Obs.] Milton. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Devote — De*vote , n. A devotee. [Obs.] Sir E. Sandys. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Dévote — de Monaco, née en Corse, martyre au IIIème siècle, son corps fut transféré à Monaco, dont elle est la patronne. Fête le 27 février (27 janvier) …   Dictionnaire des saints

  • devote — 1580s, from L. devotus, pp. of devovere (see DEVOTION (Cf. devotion)). Related: Devoted; devoting. Second and third meanings in Johnson s Dictionary (1755) are to addict, to give up to ill and to curse, to execrate; to doom to destruction …   Etymology dictionary

  • devote — [v] commit one’s energies, thoughts allot, apply, apportion, appropriate, assign, bestow, bless, concern oneself, confide, consecrate, consign, dedicate, donate, enshrine, entrust, give, give away, hallow, hand out, occupy oneself, pledge,… …   New thesaurus

  • dévote — ● dévot, dévote adjectif et nom (latin ecclésiastique devotus, dévoué) Qui est zélé pour la religion et les pratiques religieuses : Une famille dévote. Péjoratif. Qui manifeste une dévotion ostentatoire ou hypocrite ; bigot. ● dévot, dévote… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

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