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Webster 1913 Edition


Devote

De-vote′

,
Verb.
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; also, to consign over; to doom; to evil; to devote one to destruction; the city was devoted to the flames.
No
devoted
thing that a man shall
devote
unto the Lord . . . shall be sold or redeemed.
Lev. xxvii. 28.
2.
To execrate; to curse.
[Obs.]
3.
To give up wholly; to addict; to direct the attention of wholly or compound; to attach; – often with a reflexive pronoun;
as, to
devote
one’s self to science, to one's friends, to piety, etc.
Thy servant who is
devoted
to thy fear.
Ps. cxix. 38.
They
devoted
themselves unto all wickedness.
Grew.
Syn. – To addict; apply; dedicate; consecrate; resign; destine; doom; consign. See
Addict
.

De-vote′

,
Adj.
[L.
devotus
, p. p.]
Devoted; addicted; devout.
[Obs.]
Milton.

De-vote′

,
Noun.
A devotee.
[Obs.]
Sir E. Sandys.

Webster 1828 Edition


Devote

DEVOTE

,
Verb.
T.
[L., to vow.]
1.
To appropriate by vow; to set apart ro dedicate by a solemn act; to consecrate.
No devoted thing that a man shall devote to the Lord--shall be sold or redeemed. Every thing devoted thing is most holy to the Lord. Leviticus 27.
2.
To give up wholly; to addict; to direct the attention wholly or chiefly; to attach; as, to devote ones self to science; to devote ourselves to our friends, or to their interest or pleasure.
3.
To give up; to resign; as, aliens were devoted to rapine; the city was devoted to the flames.
4.
To doom; to consign over; as, to devote one to destruction.
5.
To execrate; to doom to evil.

DEVOTE

,
Adj.
Devoted.

DEVOTE

,
Noun.
A devotee.

Definition 2024


devote

devote

See also: dévote

English

Verb

devote (third-person singular simple present devotes, present participle devoting, simple past and past participle devoted)

  1. To give one's time, focus one's efforts, commit oneself, etc. entirely for, on, or to a certain matter.
    They devoted their lives to following Jesus Christ.
    I devoted this afternoon to repainting my study, and nothing will get in my way.
    • Grew
      They devoted themselves unto all wickedness.
    • Gray
      a leafless and simple branch [] devoted to the purpose of climbing
  2. To consign over; to doom.
    to devote one to destruction
    The city was devoted to the flames.
  3. To execrate; to curse.

Usage notes

  • Often used in the past participle form, which has become an adjective. See devoted.

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Adjective

devote (comparative more devote, superlative most devote)

  1. (obsolete) Devoted; addicted; devout.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Milton to this entry?)

Anagrams


Dutch

Pronunciation

Adjective

devote

  1. Inflected form of devoot

Italian

Adjective

devote

  1. feminine plural of devoto

Noun

devote f

  1. plural of devota

Anagrams


Latin

Participle

dēvote

  1. vocative masculine singular of dēvotus

References