dedication

[ ded-i-key-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act of dedicating.
2. the state of being dedicated: dedicated:

   Her dedication to medicine was so great that she had time for little else.

3. a formal, printed inscription in a book, piece of music, etc., dedicating it to a person, cause, or the like.
4. a personal, handwritten inscription in or on a work, as by an author to a friend.
5. a ceremony marking the official completion or opening of a public building, institution, monument, etc.

dedication

/ ˌdɛdɪˈkeɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of dedicating or the state of being dedicated
2. an inscription or announcement prefixed to a book, piece of music, etc, dedicating it to a person or thing
3. complete and wholehearted devotion, esp to a career, ideal, etc
4. a ceremony in which something, such as a church, is dedicated

Derived Forms

• ˌdediˈcational, adjective

Other Words From

• dedi·cation·al adjective
• nonded·i·cation noun
• over·dedi·cation noun
• preded·i·cation noun
• reded·i·cation noun
• self-dedi·cation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of dedication¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English dedicacioun, from Latin dēdicātiōn-, stem of dēdicātiō, literally, “a declaring,” equivalent to dēdicāt(us) “declared, devoted” (past participle of dēdicāre; dedicate ) + -iō -ion

Example Sentences

In fact, enjoying the show takes an extreme dedication to suspending disbelief.

From The Daily Beast

And the CDC team that arrived to ensure they were properly trained and equipped found them in no need of moxie and dedication.

From The Daily Beast

As I wrote in the dedication, it allowed me to hate her, to love her, to forgive her.

From The Daily Beast

As an adulthood now living out his passion, his dedication sometimes borders on obsession.

From The Daily Beast

But even his worst opponents can find common ground with him on their shared dedication to details.

From The Daily Beast

In more than one passage of the prayer of Solomon, at the dedication of the temple, it denotes to Covenant.

From Project Gutenberg

This dedication is very precious, as indicating your regard for me, and on my part I reciprocate your feeling.

From Project Gutenberg

The present arms of the see evidently have reference to the dedication of the ancient cathedral church to St. Peter.

From Project Gutenberg

The encenia, or dedication of the incomparable theatre at Oxford, endowed and founded 1664, by archbishop Selden.

From Project Gutenberg

He assured her that if the Chamberlain was obstinate, he should publish it with a dedication to her Grace.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• adherence
• allegiance
• commitment
• devotion