## Meanings
1. To give all your time and energy to a particular activity or purpose.
2. To set something apart for a special use.
3. To say at the start of a book, song, or performance that it is in honour of someone.

## Examples
- They dedicated themselves to starting their own business.
- They dedicated the money to scientific research.
- The writer dedicated the book to her parents.

## Synonyms
- behallow
- consecrate
- earmark
- hallow

## Derived Forms
- dedicatee
- dedicative
- rededicate

## Related Forms
- dedication

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *deyḱ-
- Root: dedicaten
- Root: dēdicātus

## Etymology
From Middle English dedicaten (“to dedicate”), from dedicat(e) (“dedicated”, also used as the past participle of dedicaten) + -en (verb-forming suffix), from Latin dēdicātus, the perfect passive participle of dēdicō (“to dedicate, proclaim”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix).

## AI Etymology
dedicate comes from Middle English dedicaten (“to dedicate”), from dedicat(e) (“dedicated”, also used as the past participle of dedicaten) + -en (verb-forming suffix), from Latin dēdicātus, the perfect passive participle of dēdicō (“to dedicate, proclaim”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix). The historical chain includes Proto-Indo-European *deyḱ-, Middle English dedicaten, Latin dēdicātus. Current senses include to give all your time and energy to a particular activity or purpose and to set something apart for a special use. English relatives and later formations include dedicatee, dedicative, rededicate, dedication.

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