Etymology

devote

D2E1V4O1T1E1

Today it means: to give one's time, focus one's efforts, commit oneself, etc. entirely for, on, or to a certain matter; to consecrate. Full definition →

Latin dēvōtus
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The story

  1. Latin · derived fromdēvoveō“dedicate by a vow, sacrifice oneself, promise solemnly”
  2. Latin · borrowed fromdēvōtus
  3. English todaydevote

Borrowed from Latin dēvōtus, past participle of Latin dēvoveō (“dedicate by a vow, sacrifice oneself, promise solemnly”). Doublet of devow; see also devout. Displaced native Middle English ēstful, from Old English ēstful.

Words from the same roots

Latindēvōtus all →

devout

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.