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Origin and history of devoted

devoted(adj.)

1590s, "set apart by a vow," past-participle adjective from devote (v.). Meaning "characterized by devotion, ardent, zealous, strongly attached" is from c. 1600. Sense of "given up, especially to some harm or evil" is from 1610s. Related: Devotedly; devotedness.

also from 1590s

Entries linking to devoted

devote(v.)

1580s, "appropriate by or as if by vow," from Latin devotus, past participle of devovere "dedicate by a vow, sacrifice oneself, promise solemnly," from de "down, away" (see de-) + vovere "to vow" (see vow (n.)). From c. 1600 as "apply zealously or exclusively." From 1640s as "to doom, consign to some harm or evil," and the word commonly had a negative sense in 18c.: The second and third meanings in Johnson's Dictionary (1755) are "to addict, to give up to ill" and "to curse, to execrate; to doom to destruction." Related: Devoted; devoting.

To devote indicates the inward act, state, or feeling; to dedicate is to set apart by a promise, and indicates primarily an external act; to consecrate is to make sacred, and refers to an act affecting the use or relations of the thing consecrated .... [Century Dictionary]
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    devout
    persons, "yielding reverential devotion to God," especially in prayer, "pious, religious," from Old French devot "pious, devoted..., assiduous" (Modern French dévot) and directly from Latin devotus "given up by vow, devoted" (source also of Spanish and...
    contemplative
    mid-14c., "devoted to (sacred) contemplation, devout," from Old French contemplatif (12c.) and directly from Latin contemplativus...
    convent
    c. 1200, covent, cuvent, "association or community of persons devoted to religious life," from Anglo-French covent, from...Meaning "a house or set of buildings occupied by a community devoted to religious life" is from mid-15c....
    dedicated
    "set apart and consecrated to a deity or to a sacred purpose by a solemn act or by religious ceremonies; devoted with earnest...Of persons, "devoted to one's aims or vocation," attested clearly by 1936, but the sense shift can be felt in Lincoln's Gettysburg...
    anathema
    Ecclesiastical Greek anathema "a thing accursed," a slight variation of classical Greek anathama, which meant merely "a thing devoted...By the time it reached Late Latin the meaning of the Greek word had progressed through "thing devoted to evil," to "thing...
    aphrodisiac
    Aphrodisian "devoted to sexual love" is attested from 1864....
    nun
    Old English nunne "woman devoted to religious life under vows of celibacy, poverty, and obedience to a superior," also "vestal...
    consecrate
    late 14c., "make or declare sacred by certain ceremonies or rites," from Latin consecratus, past participle of consecrare "to make holy, devote," from assimilated form of com "with, together" (see con-) + sacrare "to make or declare sacred" (see sacred). Meaning "to devote or ded
    reserve
    mid-14c., "keep back or in store for future use;" late 14c., "keep as one's own," from Old French reserver "set aside, withhold" (12c.) and directly from Latin reservare "keep back, save up; retain, preserve," from re- "back" (see re-) + servare "to keep, save, preserve, protect"
    reverse
    c. 1300, "opposite, contrary in position or direction, turned backward," from Old French revers "reverse, cross, opposite" (13c.) and directly from Latin reversus, past participle of revertere "turn back, turn about, come back, return" (see revert). In reference to a gear mechani

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