- Devote
- 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; also, to consign over; to doom;
to evil; to devote one to destruction; the city was
devoted to the flames.
[1913 Webster]
No devoted thing that a man shall devote unto the Lord . . . shall be sold or redeemed. --Lev. xxvii. 28. [1913 Webster]
2. To execrate; to curse. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]
Thy servant who is devoted to thy fear. --Ps. cxix. 38. [1913 Webster]
They devoted themselves unto all wickedness. --Grew. [1913 Webster]
A leafless and simple branch . . . devoted to the purpose of climbing. --Gray.
Syn: To addict; apply; dedicate; consecrate; resign; destine; doom; consign. See {Addict}. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.