dedicate

Formsdedicates, dedicating, dedicated

Pluraldedicates

1. 1
   verbtransitive

   To devote oneself fully to an aim, activity, or way of thinking.

   Volunteers dedicate countless hours to the relief effort each season.

   He dedicated himself entirely to the study of ancient languages.

   Similardevote, commit, give

   Note

   The reflexive use: you dedicate yourself, ourselves or themselves to something. The to here is a preposition, not part of an infinitive, so a verb after it takes -ing. You say "dedicated ourselves to starting our own business," not "to start." The same rule holds when time or effort is the object: volunteers dedicate hours to helping.

2. 2
   verbtransitive

   To set something apart for a particular special use.

   Several departments dedicate part of their budget to staff training.

   The trust dedicated its largest hall to the rare manuscripts.

   Similardevote, allocate, assign, earmark, reserve

3. 3
   verbtransitive

   To address or inscribe a creative work to another person as a mark of respect or affection.

   The poet dedicated her collection to the mentor who first encouraged her.

   Composers sometimes dedicate symphonies to their patrons.

   Similarinscribe

4. 4
   verbtransitive

   To formally open a building or structure for public use.

   Local leaders dedicate new public spaces almost every year.

   The governor dedicated the restored courthouse last fall.

   Similaropen, inaugurate

5. 5
   verbtransitive

   To consecrate something to a god or reserve it for religious use.

   The bishop dedicated the chapel to Saint Anne.

   Worshippers gather to dedicate the shrine before the festival.

   Similarconsecrate, sanctify, hallow, bless

   Oppositedeconsecrate

   Note

   The word reached English through Middle English dedicaten, from Latin dēdicātus, the past participle of dēdicō, "to dedicate, proclaim." The construction is dedicate something to someone: a chapel to Saint Anne, a shrine to a god. The to-phrase names the holy recipient, and consecrate is its close synonym in religious use.

6. 6
   verbtransitive

   To present something to the public for the first time.

   The museum dedicated its newest exhibit at a crowded first showing.

   Each year they dedicate a fresh installation that no one has yet seen.

   Similarunveil, launch, premiere, debut

7. 7
   nouncountable

   A person who has committed themselves, or has been committed, to the service of a leader, religion, or similar cause.

   The coven initiated a new dedicate at the solstice gathering.

   Dedicates of the temple rose before dawn to begin their devotions.

   Similardevotee, initiate

   Note

   This noun belongs to fantasy fiction and modern paganism. In Tamora Pierce's Sandry's Book, a few dedicates and the novices hurry away together, named as two separate groups. In Dracaena Paxx's The Sacred Spiral, a dedicate is someone moving toward initiation alongside a priest or priestess. Like the obsolete adjective, it grew from the Latin participle dēdicātus, here turned into a word for a person.

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