de|vote

de|vote «dih VOHT», verb, -vot|ed, -vot|ing, adjective.

–v.t.

1. to give up (oneself, or one's money, time, or efforts) to some person, purpose, or service: »

The mother devoted herself to her children. He devoted his efforts to the improvement of the parks in his city. Is the nation as yet devoting enough time and thought and energy and money and ingenuity to the…often ignored problem of the ghetto school in the big city? (Tom Wicker).

2. to set apart and consecrate to God or to a sacred purpose.

3. to set apart for any other particular purpose: »

That museum devotes two floors to animal exhibits. The program was devoted to music by Casals, and there were speeches (Harold C. Schonberg).

SYNONYM(S): appropriate, assign, apply.

4. Archaic. to consign to evil, as by a curse; doom; curse.

–adj.

Archaic. devoted.

╂[< Latin dēvōtus, past participle of dēvovēre < dē- away + vovēre to vow. See etym. of doublet devout. (Cf. ↑devout)]

Synonym Study transitive verb. 1, 2 Devote, dedicate, consecrate mean to give something or someone up to a purpose. Devote emphasizes giving up seriously to a single purpose, shutting out everything else: »

He devoted his time to study.

Dedicate emphasizes giving up or setting apart earnestly or solemnly for a serious or sacred use: »

She dedicated her life to science. They dedicated the hospital.

Consecrate emphasizes setting the person or thing apart as sacred or glorified, by a solemn vow or ceremony: »

A bishop consecrated the burial ground.