dedication English · revision 10802

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1382|origins=fro dedicacion|origins=la dedicatio}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˌded.ɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fro|dedicacion|t=consecration of a church]] and directly from Latin dēdicātiō,^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) from dēdicāre, to devote, consecrate (see [[dedicate]]),^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) from dē-, away, and dicāre, to proclaim.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The consecration of something to a deity or to sacred use: 1382 in the OED, the late 14th century in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The feast commemorating the dedication of a church is from about 1400.^(OED 1989) An inscription to a patron or friend prefixed to a book or piece of music is from the 1590s, 1598 in the OED.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The figurative sense, giving oneself wholly to a purpose, is from about 1600,^(Etymonline) 1601 in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1382 – consecration.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1400 – a church's dedication feast.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1598 – a dedication in a book.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1601 – devotion to a purpose.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Wholehearted [[devotion]] to a task or purpose.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # An inscription in a book or piece of music dedicating it to someone.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The act of dedicating a building, especially a church, to a sacred use.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[dedicative]]

+ * [[dedicatory]]

+ * [[dedicational]]

+ * [[nondedication]]

+ * [[prededication]]

+ * [[rededication]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[dedicate]]

+ * [[diction]]

+ * [[indicate]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}