dedicate

Where does the word "dedicate" come from? It comes from Latin dedicare, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).

Dedicate’s story begins in Latin: dedicare meant “to declare, to consecrate.” To declare thoroughly, to consecrate, from de- (thoroughly) and dicare (to proclaim). It reached English by 1400s as dedicate. Settled as the English word for devoting something to a purpose or person. Today, dedicate means to devote time, effort, or a work to a particular purpose or person.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient dedicare "to declare, to consecrate", to declare thoroughly, to consecrate, from de- (thoroughly) and dicare (to proclaim).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1400s dedicate "to devote something to a particular purpose or person", settled as the English word for devoting something to a purpose or person.