Reading Theme:
Dedicate: Definition, Usage & Examples (2 meaning)
Meaning 1：devote wholeheartedly (dedicate)
dedicate
/ˈdedɪkeɪt/
vt.
To give all your time and effort to something you believe in.
devote wholeheartedly
➕
/dɪˈvəʊt ˌhəʊtˈhɑːtɪdli/
vt.
It means to commit oneself fully to a task or purpose, often implying personal sacrifice for something valued.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Latin 'dēdicāre': 'dē-' (thoroughly) + 'dīcāre' (to declare).
💡 Mnemonic
DE (down) + DICATE (to declare): Declare something down as your main focus.
📖 Example
She decided to dedicate her weekends to volunteering at the animal shelter.
She decided to devote her weekends wholeheartedly to volunteering at the animal shelter.
🔗 Collocations
dedicate oneself to – To commit oneself fully to a person or cause
dedicate time to – To allocate a significant amount of time to an activity
dedicate resources to – To earmark money, equipment, or personnel for a specific purpose
🔄 Synonyms
devote (vt.) – To give time or effort exclusively to a particular activity or person
commit (vt.) – To pledge or bind oneself to a certain course or policy
consecrate (vt.) – To make or declare something sacred, often with a solemn or religious tone
🚫 Antonyms
🌱 Derivatives
dedication (n.) – The quality of being dedicated; a ceremony for dedicating something
dedicated (adj.) – Wholly committed to a particular purpose or cause
dedicatory (adj.) – Serving as or relating to a dedication
📖 Cultural Story
The term comes from the solemn Roman practice of 'dēdicātiō,' a formal public ceremony to declare a temple or monument sacred to a god. This act transferred ownership to the divine and set it apart for a special purpose.
Meaning 2：inscribe to honor (dedicate)
dedicate
/ˈdedɪkeɪt/
vt.
To write someone's name at the beginning of a book, song, etc., to show it is for them.
inscribe to honor
➕
/ɪnˈskraɪb tu ˈɒnə/
vt.
To formally write or inscribe a name, often at the front of a creative work, as a sign of respect, gratitude, or affection for that person.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
The author will dedicate her new novel to her best friend, who inspired the main character.
The author will inscribe her new novel to her best friend, who inspired the main character, to honor her.
🔗 Collocations
dedicate a book to – To write a formal inscription honoring someone in a published book
dedicate a song to – To publicly state that a musical performance is in honor of a specific person
dedicate a monument to – To formally declare a statue or structure is in memory of a person or event
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