Part 241

Dev`o*ra"tion (?), n. [L. devoratio. See Devour.] The act of devouring. [Obs.] Holinshed.

De*vo"ta*ry (?), n. [See Devote, Votary.] A votary. [Obs.] J. Gregory.

De*vote" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Devoted; p. pr. & vb. n. Devoting.] [L. devotus, p. p. of devovere; de + vovere to vow. See Vow, and cf. Devout, Devow.] 1. To appropriate by vow; to set apart or dedicate by a solemn act; to consecrate; also, to consign over; to doom; to evil; to devote one to destruction; the city was devoted to the flames.

No devoted thing that a man shall devote unto the Lord . . . shall be sold or redeemed.

Lev. xxvii. 28.

2. To execrate; to curse. [Obs.]

3. To give up wholly; to addict; to direct the attention of wholly or compound; to attach; -- often with a reflexive pronoun; as, to devote one's self to science, to one's friends, to piety, etc.

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Thy servant who is devoted to thy fear.

Ps. cxix. 38.

They devoted themselves unto all wickedness.

Grew.

A leafless and simple branch . . . devoted to the purpose of climbing.

Gray.

Syn. -- To addict; apply; dedicate; consecrate; resign; destine; doom; consign. See Addict.

De*vote" (?), a. [L. devotus, p. p.] Devoted; addicted; devout. [Obs.] Milton.

De*vote", n. A devotee. [Obs.] Sir E. Sandys.

De*vot"ed, a. Consecrated to a purpose; strongly attached; zealous; devout; as, a devoted admirer. -- De*vot"ed*ly, adv. -- De*vot"ed*ness, n.

Dev`o*tee" (?), n. One who is wholly devoted; esp., one given wholly to religion; one who is superstitiously given to religious duties and ceremonies; a bigot.

While Father Le Blanc was very devout he was not a devotee.

A. S. Hardy.

De*vote"ment (?), n. The state of being devoted, or set apart by a vow. [R.] Bp. Hurd.

De*vot"er (?), n. One who devotes; a worshiper.

De*vo"tion (?), n. [F. dévotion, L. devotio.] 1. The act of devoting; consecration.

2. The state of being devoted; addiction; eager inclination; strong attachment love or affection; zeal; especially, feelings toward God appropriately expressed by acts of worship; devoutness.

Genius animated by a fervent spirit of devotion.

Macaulay.

3. Act of devotedness or devoutness; manifestation of strong attachment; act of worship; prayer. "The love of public devotion." Hooker.