# dedication

Pronunciation: say "ded-i-KAY-shuhn" /ˌdɛdɪˈkeɪʃən/

## Noun

1. The act of devoting something to a purpose or person, or the quality of being deeply committed to a goal or cause.
   - Simple: Giving your full effort to something, or setting something apart for a special use.
   - _Her dedication to the team never wavered, even after a losing season._
   - _Years of dedication earned him first chair in the national orchestra._
2. A note addressed to a patron, friend, or loved one at the front of a book or other creative work, expressing respect or affection.
   - Simple: A few words at the start of a book that thank or honor someone special.
   - _The dedication in her first novel reads, 'For my mother, who believed.'_
   - _He composed a heartfelt dedication to his mentor for the album's liner notes._
3. An event, or the ceremony celebrating it, that marks the official completion, opening, or beginning of something.
   - Simple: A special event held when something new, like a building, officially opens.
   - _The mayor spoke at the dedication of the new library._
   - _A dedication ceremony for the war memorial drew veterans from across the state._
4. The act of giving up all rights to a piece of property, whether done deliberately or through negligence.
   - Simple: Giving up all your rights to land or property, either on purpose or through carelessness.
   - _The court ruled that the developer's dedication of the strip created a permanent public right of way._
   - _By allowing public access for decades without objection, the family risked dedication of the trail to public use._

## Origin

Recorded around 1350–1400, it comes from Middle English dedicacioun, from Old French dedicacion ("consecration of a church or chapel"), which in turn derives from Latin dēdicātiō.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/dedication (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).