devote

[ dih-voht ]
/ dɪˈvoʊt /

verb (used with object), de·vot·ed, de·vot·ing.

to give up or appropriate to or concentrate on a particular pursuit, occupation, purpose, cause, etc.: to devote one's time to reading.
to appropriate by or as if by a vow; set apart or dedicate by a solemn or formal act; consecrate: She devoted her life to God.
to commit to evil or destruction; doom.

Origin of devote

1580–90; < Latin dēvōtus vowed (past participle of dēvovēre), equivalent to dē- de- + vōtus; see vote, vow

synonym study for devote

2. Devote, dedicate, consecrate share the sense of assigning or applying someone or something to an activity, function, or end. Devote, though it has some overtones of religious dedication, is the most general of the three terms: He devoted his free time to mastering the computer. Dedicate is more solemn and carries an ethical or moral tone: We are dedicated to the achievement of equality for all. Consecrate, even in nonreligious contexts, clearly implies a powerful and sacred dedication: consecrated to the service of humanity.

Example sentences from the Web for devote

British Dictionary definitions for devote

devote
/ (dɪˈvəʊt) /

verb (tr)

to apply or dedicate (oneself, time, money, etc) to some pursuit, cause, etc
obsolete to curse or doom

Derived forms of devote

devotement, noun

Word Origin for devote

C16: from Latin dēvōtus devoted, solemnly promised, from dēvovēre to vow; see de-, vow