Dictionary entry

Devote

Webster's Dictionary 1913

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.

No devoted thing that a man shall devote unto the Lord... shall be sold or redeemed. Lev. xxvii. 28.

2. To execrate; to curse.

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.

A leafless and simple branch... devoted to the purpose of climbing. Gray.

Syn. — To addict; apply; dedicate; consecrate; resign; destine; doom; consign. See Addict.