definitions

dedicate

[ verb ded-i-keyt; adjective ded-i-kit ]
/ verb ˈdɛd ɪˌkeɪt; adjective ˈdɛd ɪ kɪt /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR dedicate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), ded·i·cat·ed, ded·i·cat·ing.

adjective

dedicated.

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RELATED WORDS

apportion, give, devote, restrict, allot, apply, commit, assign, consecrate, pledge, offer, inscribe, consign, appropriate, address, surrender, bless, hallow, anoint

Nearby words

dedekind, dedekind cut, dedekind, julius wilhelm richard, dedendum, dedham, dedicate, dedicated, dedicatee, dedication, dedicative, dedicatory

Origin of dedicate

1375–1425; late Middle English (v. and adj.) < Latin dēdicātus past participle of dēdicāre to declare, devote, equivalent to dē- de- + dicāre to indicate, consecrate, akin to dīcere to say, speak (see dictate)
Related formsded·i·ca·tor, nouno·ver·ded·i·cate, verb (used with object), o·ver·ded·i·cat·ed, o·ver·ded·i·cat·ing.pre·ded·i·cate, verb (used with object), pre·ded·i·cat·ed, pre·ded·i·cat·ing.re·ded·i·cate, verb (used with object), re·ded·i·cat·ed, re·ded·i·cat·ing.

Synonym study

1. See devote.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for dedicate

British Dictionary definitions for dedicate

dedicate

/ (ˈdɛdɪˌkeɪt) /

verb (tr)

(often foll by to) to devote (oneself, one's time, etc) wholly to a special purpose or cause; commit wholeheartedly or unreservedly
(foll by to) to address or inscribe (a book, artistic performance, etc) to a person, cause, etc as a token of affection or respect
(foll by to) to request or play (a record) on radio for another person as a greeting
to assign or allocate to a particular project, function, etc
to set apart for a deity or for sacred uses; consecrate

adjective

an archaic word for dedicated
Derived Formsdedicatee, noundedicator, noundedicatory (ˈdɛdɪˌkeɪtərɪ, ˈdɛdɪkətərɪ, -trɪ) or dedicative, adjective

Word Origin for dedicate

C15: from Latin dēdicāre to announce, from dicāre to make known, variant of dīcere to say
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for dedicate

dedicate

v.

early 15c. (of churches), from Latin dedicatus, past participle of dedicare "consecrate, proclaim, affirm, set apart," from de- "away" (see de-) + dicare "proclaim," from stem of dicere "to speak, to say" (see diction). Dedicated "devoted to one's aims or vocation" is first attested 1944.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper