dedicate Hear it!

dedicate Definition

dedi·cate (ded′i kit; for v., -kāt′)

adjective

Archaic dedicated

Etymology: ME dedicat < L dedicatus, pp. of dedicare, to consecrate, declare < de-, intens. + dicare, to proclaim < dicere, to say: see diction

transitive verb dedicated -·cat′ed, dedicating -·cat′·ing

  1. to set apart for worship of a deity or devote to a sacred purpose
  2. to set apart seriously for a special purpose; devote to some work, duty, etc. she dedicated her life to serving the poor
  3. to address or inscribe (a book, artistic performance, etc.) to someone or something as a sign of honor or affection
  4. ☆ to open formally (a public building, fair, etc.)
  5. Law to devote to public use

Etymology: ME dedicaten < the adj.

Related Forms:

dedicate Synonyms

dedicate

v.

  1. To consecrate

    sanctify, hallow, anoint; see bless 3.

  2. To set apart for special use

    devote, apply, give, appropriate, set aside, surrender, allot, consign, commit, restrict, apportion, assign, give over to, donate.

to dedicate is to set apart or assign something, as in a formal rite, to some serious, often sacred, purpose to dedicate a temple, to dedicate oneself to painting; to devote is to give up or apply oneself or something with the seriousness or earnestness evoked by a formal vow to devote one's life to a cause; to consecrate is to set apart for some religious or holy use to consecrate ground for a church; hallow, a stronger word, suggests an intrinsic holiness in the thing set apart to hallow the Sabbath