devote
verbadjectiveattested in dialogue
- United Kingdom//dɪˈvəʊt//
- Canada//dɪˈvoʊt//
- Australia//dɪˈvəʉt//
- Australia//dɪˈvɐʉt//
- //ɖᵻˈvoʈ//
to give one's time, focus one's efforts, commit oneself, etc. entirely for, on, or to a certain matter; to consecrate.
verb
- 1
to give one's time, focus one's efforts, commit oneself, etc. entirely for, on, or to a certain matter; to consecrate.
They devoted their lives to following Jesus Christ.
I devoted this afternoon to repainting my study, and nothing will get in my way.
He is the Chief of this far Countrey; and to his service, carnal and wicked men devote themselves.
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
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin dēvōtus, past participle of Latin dēvoveō (“dedicate by a vow, sacrifice oneself, promise solemnly”). Doublet of devow; see also devout. Displaced native Middle English ēstful, from Old English ēstful.
adjective
- 1
obsoletedevoted; addicted; devout
A world devote to universal wrack
Forms
- comparative
- more devote
- superlative
- most devote
- past tense
- devoted
- past participle
- devoted
- present participle
- devoting
- third person singular
- devotes
devote · to give one's time, focus one's efforts, commit oneself, etc. entirely for, on, or to a certain matter; to consecrate.
devoted · Vowed; dedicated; consecrated.devotion · The act or state of devoting or being devoted; a feeling of…devour · To eat quickly, greedily, hungrily, or ravenously.