Adjacent Words

Dedicate definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

DEDICATE, v.t. [L. To vow, promise, devote, dedicate. See Class Dg. No. 12, 15, 45. The sense is to send, to throw; hence, to set, to appoint.]
1. To set apart and consecrate to a divine Being, or to a sacred purpose; to devote to a sacred use, by a solemn act, or by religious ceremonies; as, to dedicate vessels, treasures, a temple, an altar, or a church, to God or to a religious use.
Vessels of silver, of gold, and of brass, which king David did dedicate to the Lord. 2 Sam. Viii.
2. To appropriate solemnly to any person or purpose; to give wholly or chiefly to. The ministers of the gospel dedicate themselves, their time and their studies, to the service of Christ. A soldier dedicates himself to the profession of arms.
3. To inscribe or address to a patron; as, to dedicate a book.
DEDICATE, a. Consecrated; devoted; appropriated.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

v
1: give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause; "She committed herself to the work of God"; "give one's talents to a good cause"; "consecrate your life to the church" [syn: give, dedicate, consecrate, commit, devote]
2: open to public use, as of a highway, park, or building; "The Beauty Queen spends her time dedicating parks and nursing homes"
3: inscribe or address by way of compliment; "She dedicated her book to her parents"
4: set apart to sacred uses with solemn rites, of a church

Merriam Webster's

I. adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Latin dedicatus, past participle of dedicare to dedicate, from de- + dicare to proclaim, dedicate — more at diction Date: 14th century dedicated 1 II. transitive verb (-cated; -cating) Date: 15th century 1. to devote to the worship of a divine being; specifically to set apart (a church) to sacred uses with solemn rites 2. a. to set apart to a definite use <money dedicated to their vacation fund> b. to commit to a goal or way of life <ready to dedicate his life to public service> 3. to inscribe or address by way of compliment <dedicate a book to a friend> 4. to open to public use Synonyms: see devote • dedicator noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v.tr. 1 (foll. by to) devote (esp. oneself) to a special task or purpose. 2 (foll. by to) address (a book, piece of music, etc.) as a compliment to a friend, patron, etc. 3 (often foll. by to) devote (a building etc.) to a deity or a sacred person or purpose. 4 (as dedicated adj.) a (of a person) devoted to an aim or vocation; having single-minded loyalty or integrity. b (of equipment, esp. a computer) designed for a specific purpose. Derivatives: dedicatee n. dedicative adj. dedicator n. dedicatory adj. Etymology: L dedicare (DE-, dicare declare, dedicate)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Dedicate Ded"i*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dedicated; p. pr. & vb. n. Dedicating.] 1. To set apart and consecrate, as to a divinity, or for sacred uses; to devote formally and solemnly; as, to dedicate vessels, treasures, a temple, or a church, to a religious use. Vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, . . . which also king David did dedicate unto the Lord. --2 Sam. viii. 10, 11. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. . . . But in a larger sense we can not dedicate, we can not consecrate, we can not hallow this ground. --A. Lincoln. 2. To devote, set apart, or give up, as one's self, to a duty or service. The profession of a soldier, to which he had dedicated himself. --Clarendon. 3. To inscribe or address, as to a patron. He complied ten elegant books, and dedicated them to the Lord Burghley. --Peacham. Syn: See Addict.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Dedicate Ded"i*cate, p. a. [L. dedicatus, p. p. of dedicare to affirm, to dedicate; de- + dicare to declare, dedicate; akin to dicere to say. See Diction.] Dedicated; set apart; devoted; consecrated. ``Dedicate to nothing temporal.'' --Shak. Syn: Devoted; consecrated; addicted.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(dedicates, dedicating, dedicated) 1. If you say that someone has dedicated themselves to something, you approve of the fact that they have decided to give a lot of time and effort to it because they think that it is important. Back on the island, he dedicated himself to politics... Bessie has dedicated her life to caring for others. = devote VERB: V pron-refl to n/-ing, V n to n/-ing [approval] • dedicated He's quite dedicated to his students. ADJ: oft ADJ to n • dedication We admire her dedication to the cause of humanity... N-UNCOUNT: oft N to n 2. If someone dedicates something such as a book, play, or piece of music to you, they mention your name, for example in the front of a book or when a piece of music is performed, as a way of showing affection or respect for you. She dedicated her first album to Woody Allen... VERB: V n to n

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. v. a. 1. Devote, hallow, sanctify, consecrate, set apart (to God or the purposes of religion). 2. Devote, consecrate, give earnestly or wholly, apply completely or devotedly. 3. Address (as a literary work), inscribe. II. a. Devoted, consecrated, dedicated, set apart.

Moby Thesaurus

address, allot, apply, appropriate, assign, beatify, bless, canonize, cleanse, commit, confide, consecrate, consign, devote, direct, enshrine, entrust, exalt, give, give over, give over to, give up, glorify, hallow, inscribe, offer, pledge, purify, saint, sanctify, set, set apart, surrender, yield